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Boeing RC-135

1962 COLD WAR MODERN AIRCRAFT VIETNAM WAR

The Boeing RC-135 History

The RC-135 family of aircraft has proven to be an asset in various United States Air Force (USAF) data acquisition/surveillance missions. The aircraft is forged from the proven 1957 Boeing 717/C-135 "Stratolifter" transport frame, a design approved by Boeing as the "739". The four-engine C-135 first flew in August 1956 and entered service with the U.S. Air Force the following year.

Of these, 60 were rebuilt, with notable variants including the RC-135, NC-135 and EC-135 models.

The RC-135 series has historically operated a total of 32 aircraft, and the service was introduced in 1961 (via the RC-135S model). The RC-135D production brand followed in 1962.

Dimensions include a barrel length of 136.2 feet, a wingspan of 130.9 feet, and a height of 41.7 feet. Curb weight is 124,000 pounds, and MTOW is 322,500 pounds. The RC-135 can reach speeds of 580 mph, has a range of 3,450 miles, and can fly up to 50,000 feet.

The climb rate is 4,900 feet per minute.

The RC-135 was originally powered by 4 x Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-9 turbofans, but later switched to CFM International F108-CF-201 turbofans (22,000 lb thrust each) to extend its life and range At the same time extend the life of these critical air platforms. The first of these improved RC-135V models was introduced in 2001.

The RC-135A family produced many common airframe shapes: the RC-135A was produced in 1961 from four examples of KC-135A aerial tankers for photogrammetry. The RC-135R "Rivet Bracket"/"Rivet Fast" aircraft were three KC-135A reconnaissance conversions from 1963.

In 1969, the KC-135T "Cobra Jaws" arrived with a new radome assembly and a special antenna installed.

The RC-135B model was used as the successor to the Boeing RB-47H "Stratojet" bomber, which was converted to a signals intelligence (SIGINT) role. The RC-135B was never flown in an operational sense and arrived without mission equipment. These are done as RC-135C models under "Big Safari".

The RC-135C "Brigade" model carries the AN/ASD-1 ELINT kit.

The "Office Boy" project produced the 1962 RC-135D "Office Boy"/"Riveted Brass" brand, which entered service in 1963. The RC-135S "Cobra Clock" was used to monitor foreign missile launches. The RC-135X "Cobra Eye" was used in the 1960s to monitor the reentry of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

The RC-135U "Combat Sent" was designed as a radar transmitter collector. The TC-135 is used for crew training missions.

RAF RC-135W "Riveted" Under "Program Airseeker", three KC-135R aircraft converted to RC-135W Riveted Standard and upgraded to RAF Squadron No. 51 in October 2014 been put into use. These are used to replace the output lines of an already running Nimrod R. 1 platform.