RC-135: A strange-looking bird
equipped for a secret mission
By Wayne Specht, Stars and Stripes
The
hog-nosed RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft, Rivet Joint, bristles with an extensive antenna
array and strange looking bulges on its fuselage.
It is a
high-altitude version of the C-135, a militarized version of the veritable Boeing 707.
Rivet Joint
aircraft are assigned to the 55th Wing, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., and one is deployed
to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa.
It provides
direct, real-time reconnaissance information and electronic warfare support to theater
commanders, mission planners and combat forces.
Information
gathered by the RC-135 is made available to theater commanders, Department of Defense, and
the National Command Authorities.
Data is
processed, analyzed, and stored by Air Combat Command, Air Intelligence Agency, and
National Security Agency specialists.
Internal
reconnaissance equipment aboard the aircraft includes sensors, receiver systems, probe,
blade, wire and dielectric panel antenna, and it is fitted with camera system windows.
The RC-135
also carries high, very high, and ultra-high frequency radios, conventional radar and
doppler radar.
It also
uplinks to DOD’s Global Positioning Satellite network, stellar and the INS navigation
system.
The Rivet
Joint works closely with the E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) during war
or contingency situations.
However,
there is no indication that reconnaissance flights which resumed Monday were done in
concert with the AWACS.
Air Force
officials earlier this year consolidated training for linguists assigned RC-135 Rivet
Joint aircraft duties by moving initial aircraft qualification training to the 97th
Intelligence Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebr., headquarters of the U.S.
Strategic Command, formerly the Strategic Air Command.
All Rivet
Joint linguists receive qualification at the 97th IS before being assigned to one of the
three RC-135 Rivet Joint locations at Kadena Air Base, Japan; Royal Air Force Base
Mildenhall, United Kingdom, and Offutt Air Force Base, Nebr., officials said.
The other
two variants of the RC-135 are the RC-135U Combat Sent, and the RC-135S Cobra Ball.
Their
missions are more specialized than Rivet Joint, and the equipment carried aboard each
version is unique to each model.
All RC-135s
are equipped with an air refueling system, giving the aircraft unlimited range.
Operations
supported by Rivet Joint over the past decade includes Urgent Fury, Eldorado Canyon, Just
Cause, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Proven Force, Provide Comfort, Southern Watch, Vigilant
Warrior, Deny Flight, Provide Promise and Uphold Democracy.
Air
Force sources were used for this report.
Back to May stories
Page Two news roundup
Stories from April, 2001
Stories from March, 2001
Stories from February,2001
Stories from January, 2001
Stories from December, 2000
Stories from November, 2000
Stories from October, 2000
Stories from August and September, 2000
Stories from June and July, 2000
Home |
