Externally the aircraft were also fitted with sideways looking airborne radar (SLAR) antenna on either the lower forward fuselage. The refueling boom was not fitted and the boom operators station was used as a camera bay, for a KA-59 camera.
By 1967 they had emerged as RC-135Cs and were all delivered that year. These ten aircraft were delivered directly into storage in 1965 while they awaited fitment of an improved electronics suite.
Similar to the earlier variants, the RC-135Bs were fitted with TF-33 turbofans rather than the older J57s. The next variant ordered was the RC-135B to be used as an electronic intelligence aircraft to replace the Boeing RB-47H Stratojet on ELINT duties. They had no refueling system fitted and they were to be used for photographic and surveying tasks. They used the same J57-P engines of the tanker variant but carried cameras in bay just aft of the nose undercarriage bay where the forward fuel tank was normally located. Boeing allocated the variant the designation Boeing 739-700 but they were modified variant of the KC-135A then in production. Originally nine were ordered but this was later reduced to four. The first RC-135 variant, the RC-135A, were ordered in 1962 by the United States Air Force to replace the Boeing RB-50 Superfortress.
RC 135 RIVET JOINT MOD
MOD throughout the Airseeker program has been the key to delivering aircraft early and fielding the capability ahead of the original schedule,” said Bill Chrispin, the U.K. “ The cooperation between 元, the USAF and the U.K. The first two aircraft were delivered in 20, respectively, and upon gaining their airworthiness releases. purchased three Rivet Joint aircraft for conversion by 元 from KC-135R tankers to the RC-135W configuration. will be closely involved in future maturation of the Rivet Joint weapon system for at least the next 25 years.” program as the highest level of intelligence cooperation between the two countries since World War II,” said Mark Von Schwarz, 元’s Senior Vice President and President of its Aerospace Systems business segment. allies with an intelligence-gathering platform that supports near-real-time on-scene collection, analysis and dissemination capabilities.” Kubasik, 元’s President and Chief Operating Officer. access to future innovative technology and presents a very high level of interoperability with major coalition partners,” said Christopher E.
“ This groundbreaking agreement gives the U.K. 元 has also delivered a station to support ground operations and training systems to train both operators and maintainers. RJ and USAF RJ aircraft form a combined fleet of 20 aircraft, and 元 will perform future baseline upgrades and periodic depot maintenance on the fleet. Upon touchdown at Royal Air Force Waddington, Lincolnshire, U.K., the aircraft was formally transferred to the RAF, completing the hardware deliveries under the Foreign Military Sales contract valued at approximately $1 billion. RJ aircraft form the backbone of the U.K.’s Airseeker capability, providing new and collaborative intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) resources in support of global security missions.
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