Boeing RC-135
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| RC-135 | |
|---|---|
 An RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft moves into position behind a KC-135T/R Stratotanker for an aerial refueling. |
|
| Type | reconnaissance aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
| Developed from | C-135 Stratolifter |
The Boeing RC-135 is a United States Air Force reconnaissance aircraft used to support theater and national level consumers with near real-time on-scene intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination capabilities.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The aircraft is an extensively modified C-135 with on-board sensors which enable the crew to detect, identify and geolocate signals throughout the electromagnetic spectrum. The crew can then forward information in a variety of formats to a wide range of consumers via Rivet Joint's communications.
In 2005, the RC-135 fleet completed a series of significant airframe, navigational and power-plant upgrades which include re-engining from the TF-33 to the CFM-56 (F-108) engines used on the KC-135 Stratotanker and upgrade of the flight deck instrumentation and navigational systems to the AMP standard. The AMP standard includes conversion from analog readouts to a digital "glass cockpit" configuration.
The current RC-135 fleet is the latest iteration of modifications to this pool of aircraft going back to the early 1960s. Initially employed by Strategic Air Command for reconnaissance, the RC-135 fleet has also participated in every armed conflict involving U.S. assets during its tenure. RC-135s supported operations in Vietnam, the Mediterranean for Operation El Dorado Canyon, Grenada for Operation Urgent Fury, Panama for Operation Just Cause, the Balkans for Operations Deliberate Force and Allied Force, and Southwest Asia for Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. RC-135s have maintained a constant presence in Southwest Asia since the early 1990s.
All RC-135s are assigned to Air Combat Command. The RC-135 is permanently based at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska and operated by the 55th Wing using forward operating locations worldwide.
[edit] Aircraft versions and associated missions
[edit] RC-135A
The RC-135A was a photo mapping platform utilized briefly by the Air Photographic & Charting Service. The mission was soon taken over by satellites, and the RC-135As were de-modified and used as staff transports. Due to delays in fitting their original equipment, the RC-135As were the last of the entire C-135 series delivered to the USAF.
[edit] RC-135B
The standard as-delivered version of the RC-135. The RC-135B was never used operationally, as it had no mission equipment installed by Boeing. The entire RC-135B production run was delivered directly to Martin Aircraft in Baltimore, Maryland for modification and installation of mission equipment. Upon completion, the RC-135Bs were designated RC-135C
[edit] RC-135C Big Team
Modified RC-135B aircraft used for strategic reconnaissance duties, and equipped with the AN/ASD-1 reconnaissance system. The aircraft were fitted with 'cheek' pods containing an ELINT emitter locating system (not Side Looking Airborne Radar - SLAR, as often quoted), as well as numerous other antennae.
[edit] RC-135D Rivet Brass
The RC-135Ds, then known as KC-135A-II's were the first reconnaissance configured C-135's, and were delivered to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska in 1962 as part of the Office Boy Project. Serial numbers were 60-356, 60-357, and 60-362. The aircraft began operational missions in 1963. These three aircraft were originally produced as KC-135As, but delivered without refueling booms, known as "falsie C-135As" pending the delivery of the first actual C-135A cargo aircraft in 1961. The primary Rivet Brass mission flew along the northern border of the Soviet Union, often as a shuttle mission between Eielson and RAF Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, and later RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, UK. At the completion of the program, the aircraft were converted into tankers, and are currently in the fleet as KC-135Rs.[1]
[edit] RC-135E Rivet Amber
Originally known as the C-135B-II, project name Lisa Ann, the RC-135E Rivet Amber was a one-of-a-kind aircraft equipped with a large Hughes phased-array radar system. It was deployed from Shemya Air Force Station, Alaska, and operated together with the RC-135S Rivet Ball aircraft (see below). The radar system alone weighed over 35,000 pounds and cost over USD$35 million (1960 dollars), making Rivet Amber both the heaviest C-135-derivative aircraft flying and the most expensive Air Force aircraft for its time. The radiation generated by the radar was sufficient to be a health hazard to the crew, and both ends of the radar compartment were shielded by thick lead bulkheads. This prevented the forward and aft crew areas from having direct contact after boarding the aircraft. The system could track an object the size of a soccer ball from a distance of 300 miles (480 km), and its mission was to monitor Soviet ballistic missile testing in the reentry phase. The power requirement for the phased array radar was enormous, necessitating an additional power supply. This took the form of a podded General Electric J-85 turbojet engine in a pod under the inboard wing section, driving a generator dedicated to mission equipment. On the opposite wing in the same location was a podded heat exchanger to permit cooling of the massive electronic components onboard the aircraft. This configuration has led to the mistaken impression that the aircraft had six engines. On June 5, 1969, Rivet Amber was lost on a ferry flight from Shemya to Eielson, and no trace of the aircraft or its crew was ever found (see Rivet Amber crash for details).[2]
[edit] RC-135M Rivet Card
The RC-135M was an interim type with more limited ELINT capability than the RC-135C but with extensive additional capability. They were operated by the 82nd Reconnaissance Squadron during the Vietnam War from Kadena AB, gathering SIGINT with the platform name Combat Apple. [3] There were six RC-135M aircraft, 62-4131, 62-4132, 62-4134, 62-4135, 62-4138 and 62-4139, all of which were later modified to RC-135V/W configuration by the early 1980s.[4] During a mission for Operation Enduring Freedom on March 12, 2008, 62-4132 became the first of any C-135 airframe to surpass 50,000 flying hours.[5]
[edit] RC-135S Rivet Ball
Rivet Ball was the predecessor program to Cobra Ball and was initiated with a single RC-135S (serial 59-1491, formerly a JKC-135A) on December 31, 1961, although the "Rivet Ball" name was not assigned until 1967. The aircraft was deployed from Shemya, Alaska. During its conversion, a large radome was installed to house the aircraft's mission-specific S band radar. Besides the over-sized radome, the aircraft was characterized by ten large optically flat quartz windows on the right side of the fuselage used for tracking cameras. Rivet Ball holds the distinction of obtaining the first photographic documentation of Soviet Multiple Reentry Vehicle (MRV) testing on 4 October 1968. The aircraft was destroyed in a landing accident at Shemya on 13 January 1969, although there were no fatalities.[2][6]
[edit] RC-135S Cobra Ball
The RC-135S Cobra Ball is a MASINT aircraft equipped with special optical instruments designed to observe ballistic missile flights at long range. The aircraft is an extensively modified C-135. There are four aircraft in service and they are part of the 55th Wing, 45th Reconnaissance Squadron based at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Cobra Ball aircraft were originally assigned to Shemya and used to observe ballistic missile tests on the Kamchatka peninsula in conjunction with Cobra Dane and Cobra Judy.
[edit] Cobra Ball Aircraft
Type Registration / Serial Number
- RC-135S 61-2662 / cn 18292 - converted C-135B, NC-135B, AFSC-ASD back-up to communications satellite
- RC-135S 61-2663 / cn 18333 - converted C-135B, VC-135B
- RC-135S 61-2664 / cn 18340 - (Lost March 15, 1981 at Shemya)[7]
- JC-135B 62-4128 / cn 18468 - converted C-135B, EC-135N, RC-135X Cobra Eye, RC-135S Cobra Ball, AFSC-ASD
[edit] RC-135U Combat Sent
The RC-135U, or Combat Sent, is a reconnaissance aircraft in use by the United States Air Force. The aircraft is designed to collect technical intelligence on adversary systems. Distinctly identified by the antennae arrays on the nose and wing tips of the airframe, along with extended tail, there are currently only 2 Combat Sents in the USAF, both based at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, under the 55th Wing. Minimum crew requirements are 2 pilots, 2 navigators, 3 systems engineers, 10 electronic warfare officers, and 6 area specialists.[8]
[edit] RC-135V/W Rivet Joint
The RC-135V/W sensor suite allows the mission crew to detect, identify and geolocate signals throughout the electromagnetic spectrum. The mission crew can then forward gathered information in a variety of formats to a wide range of consumers via Rivet Joint's extensive communications suite. The interior seats 34 people, including the cockpit crew, electronic warfare officers, intelligence operators and airborne systems engineers. All Rivet Joint airframe and mission systems modifications are performed by L-3 Communications in Greenville, Texas, under the oversight of the Air Force Materiel Command.
All RC-135s are assigned to Air Combat Command. The RC-135 is permanently based at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., and operated by the 55th Wing, using various forward deployment locations worldwide. http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=121
General characteristics Primary Function: Reconnaissance Contractor: L-3 Communications Power Plant: Four CFM International F108-CF-201 high bypass turbofan engines Thrust: 21,600 pounds each engine Wingspan: 131 feet (39.9 m) Length: 135 feet (41.1 m) Height: 42 feet (12.8 m) Weight: 173,000 pounds (78,743 kilograms) Maximum Takeoff Weight: 297,000 pounds (133,633 kilograms) Fuel Capacity: 130,000 pounds (58,967 kilograms) Speed: 500+ miles per hour (Mach.66) Range: 3,900 miles (6,500 kilometers) Ceiling: 50,000 feet (15,240 m) Crew: (flight crew) five (augmented) - three pilots, two navigators; (mission flight crew) 21-27, depending on mission requirements, minimum consisting of three electronic warfare officers, 14 intelligence operators and four inflight/airborne maintenance technicians Unit Cost: unavailable Initial operating capability: January 1964 Inventory: Active force, 13; Reserve, 0; Guard, 0
64-14841/14849 Boeing RC-135B Stratotanker c/n 18781/18789. All converted to RC-135C. 14841 converted to RC-135V *Rivet Joint* electronic intelligence aircraft 14842 converted to RC-135V *Rivet Joint* electronic intelligence aircraft 14843 converted to RC-135V *Rivet Joint* electronic intelligence aircraft 14844 converted to RC-135V *Rivet Joint* electronic intelligence aircraft 14845 converted to RC-135V *Rivet Joint* electronic intelligence aircraft 14846 converted to RC-135V *Rivet Joint* electronic intelligence aircraft 14847 converted to RC-135U *Combat Sent* intelligence aircraft. 14848 converted to RC-135V *Rivet Joint* electronic intelligence aircraft 14849 converted to RC-135U *Combat Sent* intelligence aircraft.
Point of Contact Air Combat Command, Public Affairs Office; 130 Andrews St., Suite 202; Langley AFB, VA 23665-1987; DSN 574-5007 or 757-764-5007; e-mail: accpa.operations@langley.af.mil http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=121
Under the "BIG SAFARI" program name, RC-135Vs were upgraded from the RC-135C "Big Team" configuration, itself a mission modified RC-135B (the first version delivered). The difference between the original and upgraded RC-135Vs and Ws is the different engines used.
[edit] RC-135X Cobra Eye
Another variation is the RC-135X, only one of which was created (from an C-135B Telemetry/Range Instrumented Aircraft) in the mid-1980s and used to track missile reentry vehicles.[9][10] In 1993, it was converted into an additional RC-135S.[3][11]
[edit] Specifications (C-135)
| RC-135 Rivet Joint | ||
|---|---|---|
| Description | ||
| Role | Reconnaissance | |
| Crew | 27 (augmented): 3 Pilots, 2 Navigators, 22 Recon Crewmembers | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 135 ft | 41.1 m |
| Wingspan | 131 ft | 39.9 m |
| Height | 42 ft | 12.8 m |
| Wing area | 2,433 ft² | 226 m² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | 98,466 lb | 44,664 kg |
| Loaded | 106,306 lb | 48,220 kg |
| Maximum take-off | 297,000 lb | 134,000 kg |
| Powerplant | ||
| Engines | Four CFM International F108-CF-201 high bypass turbofan engines | |
| Thrust | 21600 lbf | |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | 500 mph (Mach 0.66) | 800 km/h |
| Combat range | 3,900 mi | 6,500 km |
| Ferry range | ||
| Service ceiling | 44,000 ft | 13.4 km |
| Rate of climb | ||
General characteristics
- Crew: 3: pilot, copilot, boom operator (4 for non-PACER CRAG aircraft)
- Length: 136 ft 3 in (41.53 m)
- Wingspan: 130 ft 10 in (39.88 m)
- Height: 41 ft 8 in (12.70 m)
- Wing area: 2,433 ft² (226 m²)
- Empty weight: 98,466 lb (44,663 kg)
- Loaded weight: 297,000 lb (135,000 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 322,500 lb (146,000 kg)
- Powerplant: 4× (R/T) CFM International CFM-56 turbofan engines, 21,634 lbf (96 kN) each}
- Powerplant: 4× (E) Pratt & Whitney TF-33-PW-102 turbofan engines , 18,000 lbf (80 kN) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 580 mph (933 km/h)
- Range: 3,450 mi (5,550 km)
- Service ceiling 50,000 ft (15,200 m)
- Rate of climb: 4,900 ft/min (1,490 m/min)
[edit] Other Characteristics
- Contractor: L-3 Communications
- Mission flight crew: 21-27, depending on mission requirements, minimum consisting of 3 Electronic Warfare Officers (Ravens), 14 Intelligence Operators and 4 Airborne Systems Engineers.
- Date Deployed: Initial RC-135 conversions from 1964-1968; V/W configurations, 1981
- Inventory: Active force, 17; Reserve, 0; Guard, 0
[edit] Operators
[edit] References
- ^ C-135 Variants Part 2 by Jennings Heilig
- ^ a b A Tail of Two Airplanes by Kingdon R. Hawes
- ^ a b 82d Recon Page
- ^ Don Logan, C-135 Series, Schiffer Publishing
- ^ United States Air Force. 2nd Lt. Tania Bryan. RC-135 surpasses 50,000 flying-hour mark. March 13, 2008.
- ^ C-135 Variants - Part 1, by Jennings Heilig
- ^ Aviation Safety's incident summary
- ^ Official USAF fact page
- ^ Lexicon
- ^ Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 2000.
- ^ C-135 Variants - Part 3 by Jennings Heilig
- Cobra Ball - Federation of American Scientists
- RC- 135S Cobra Ball Air Force's optical intelligence collection platform - Federation of American Scientists
- Air Force Link, (2005). RC-135V/W RIVET JOINT. Retrieved December 7, 2006.
[edit] External links
- Air Force Link Fact Sheet - RC-135V/W
- FAS
- The RB-47 & RC-135 in Vietnam By Bruce Bailey
- "A Tale of Two Airplanes" by Ltc. Kingdon R. Hawes
[edit] See also
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