The aircraft was initially assigned to Strategic Air Command (SAC) and later migrated to Air Combat Command (ACC) in 1992. The Boeing RC-135 was introduced in January 1964. RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft development The RAF temporarily borrowed the signals of USAF’s Rivet Joint aircraft from the USAF until the deliveries were completed. The aircraft became fully operational in February 2018. Deliveries began in November 2013 and completed in June 2017. On 19 March 2010, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) procured three RC-135W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft along with the associated ground systems to execute signal intelligence missions for the RAF. The range and service ceiling of RC-135W is 6,500km and 39,000ft, respectively. The maximum airspeed of the aircraft is 870km/h. The RC-135V/W Rivet Joint, also called Airseeker, is an advance version fitted with a sensor suite for tracking and identifying geo-locate signals within the electromagnetic spectrum.
The RC-135U Combat Sent gathers ELINT data for use in the manufacture of advanced radar warning receivers, jammers, decoys, anti-radiation missiles and training simulators. The RC-135T trainer was built by removing the signal intelligence gear, refuelling boom and trapeze from the Rivet Dandy. The RC-135S Cobra Ball is an upgraded model of the Rivet Ball, fitted with electro optic sensors for monitoring ballistic missile flights at long range.
This variant is also equipped with a plexiglass dome fitted in the centre of the top fuselage for manual position tracking.
It is also fitted with ten large optically flat quartz windows to track cameras. The RC-135S Rivet Ball features an extended nose radome comprising S-band receiver antenna. The variant was lost on a ferry flight when flying from Shemya to Eielson on 5 June 1969.
The RC-135E Rivet Amber monitored Soviet ballistic missile demonstration in the re-entry phase. The RC-135D Rivet Brass is an upgraded version of the RC-135T transformed into KC-135R tankers. The RC-135T Rivet Dandy is an altered version of KC-135T fitted with a signal intelligence system (SIGINT). The RC-135C Big Team is a revised version of the RC-135B, fitted with automated electronic intelligence emitter locating system (AEELS), antenna and a camera on the aft fuselage section.
The RC-135A is an aerial photo capturing aircraft initially deployed at the Air Photographic & Charting Service based at Turner Air Force Base (AFB), Georgia and later at Forbes AFB. The RC-135 has 14 variants which include RC-135A, RC-135B, RC-135C Big Team, RC-135D Rivet Brass, RC-135E Rivet Amber, RC-135M Rivet Card, RC-135S Rivet Ball, RC-135S Cobra Ball, RC-135T Rivet Dandy, RC-135T Trainer Configuration, RC-135U Combat Sent, RC-135V/W Rivet Joint, RC-135X Cobra Eye and RC-135W Air Seeker. The aircraft is derived from its predecessor the C-135 Stratolifter and can execute intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations. Boeing RC-135 is a four engine, medium weight reconnaissance aircraft designed and manufactured by Boeing Defence and Integrated Systems for the US Air Force (USAF).