Thread by @TheIntelFrog

#MonkeyWerx seems to think that the RC-135s can only do one mission, interception of wireless communications or Signals Intelligence (SIGINT).

This is a thread on the in service variants of the RC-135.

1/n

All RC-135 variants, 14 of them, are all based on the same C-135 aircraft.

The C-135 is a medium weight reconnaissance aircraft built by Boeing. It's unrefueled range is 3,900 miles, but it is capable of air to air refueling.

This thread focuses on the variants in service.
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First up is the RC-135S variant, the Cobra Ball.
This variant is a measurement and signature collector aircraft equipped with a sophisticated array of optical and electronic sensors, recording media, and communications equipment for tracking ballistic missiles at long range.
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The RC-135S Cobra Ball has a crew of 10: 2 Pilots, 1 Navigator, 3 Electronic Warfare Officers, 2 airborne system engineers, and 2 more airborne mission specialists.

There are 3 Cobra Balls in the USAF inventory.

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The next RC-135 variant is U, the Combat Sent.

This variant's mission is to collect electronic intelligence (ELINT) of enemy air defense radar emitters.

It is crewed by at least 21 personnel: 2 pilots, 1 navigator, 2 airborne systems engineers, at least 10 electronic...
5/n

warfare officers, and at least 6 electronic, technical, or area specialists.

There are 2 Combat Sent aircraft in the USAF inventory.

Finally, there is the RC-135V/W, the Rivet Joint.

The Rivet Joint is a signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft whose on-board sensor suite, which allows the mission crew to detect, identify and geolocate signals throughout the electromagnetic spectrum.

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The Rivet Joint has a crew of 3 pilots, 2 navigators, and a minimum of 3 electronic warfare officers, 14 intelligence operators, and 4 inflight/airborne maintenance crew.

There are 17 Rivet Joints in the USAF.

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Source Material:
airforce-technology.com/projects/boein…
af.mil/About-Us/Fact-…
af.mil/About-Us/Fact-…
af.mil/About-Us/Fact-…

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