Boeing RC-135 - fotod ja video

2007 Boeing RC-135 on suurte luurelennukite perekond, mille on ehitanud Boeing ja mida on modifitseerinud mitmed ettevõtted, sealhulgas General Dynamics, Lockheed, LTV, E-Systems ja L3 Technologies, ning mida kasutavad Ameerika Ühendriikide õhujõud ja kuninglikud õhujõud, et toetada teatri- ja riikliku tasandi luuretarbijaid peaaegu reaalajas kohapealse kogumise, analüüsi ja levitamise võimalustega. C-135 Stratolifteri lennukikerel põhinevad erinevat tüüpi RC-135-d on olnud kasutusel alates 1961. aastast. Erinevalt C-135-st ja KC-135-st, mida Boeing tunnustab mudelina 717, on RC-135 ettevõtte poolt sisemiselt määratud mudeliks 739. Paljusid variante on mitu korda muudetud, mille tulemuseks on palju erinevaid nimetusi, konfiguratsioone ja programmide nimesid.

Allikas: Boeing RC-135 Wikipedias

Boeing RC-135 on suur luurelennuk, mida kasutatakse fotograafiliste ja elektrooniliste luuremissioonide jaoks. See põhineb Boeing C-135 Stratolifteril, transpordi- ja tankerlennukil, mis töötati välja Boeing 707-st. RC-135 on muutnud erinevad ettevõtted, näiteks General Dynamics, Lockheed, LTV, E-Systems ja L3 Technologies, et kanda erinevat tüüpi andureid ja seadmeid. RC-135 on olnud Ameerika Ühendriikide õhujõudude ja kuninglike õhujõudude teenistuses alates 1961. aastast ning on osalenud paljudes konfliktides ja operatsioonides üle maailma.
RC-135-l on neli CFM International CFM56 turboventilaatormootorit, mis tagavad maksimaalse kiiruse 933 km/h ja sõiduulatuse 5,500 km. Õhusõidukil on 27-liikmeline meeskond, sealhulgas kolm pilooti, kaks navigaatorit ja 22 muud liiget, kes käitavad luuresüsteeme. RC-135 tiibade pikkus on 39, 88 m, pikkus 41, 53 m ja kõrgus 12, 7 m. Õhusõidukil ei ole relvastus- ega kaitsesüsteeme, kuid see tugineb kaitseks oma elektroonilistele vastumeetmetele ja eskortvõitlejatele.
RC-135-l on palju variante, mis on tähistatud erinevate tähtede ja nimedega, sõltuvalt nende konkreetsest missioonist ja konfiguratsioonist. Mõned kõige levinumad variandid on:
– RC-135A: The first variant, ordered in 1962 to replace the RB-50 Superfortress. It had cameras in a bay behind the nose wheel well and no in-flight refueling system. – RC-135B: The second variant, ordered in 1964 to replace the RB-47H Stratojet. It had Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines instead of J57s and was delivered to Martin Aircraft for installation of electronic intelligence equipment. It was later converted to RC-135C. – RC-135C: The third variant, derived from the RC-135B after receiving additional modifications by E-Systems. It had large cheek antenna fairings on the forward fuselage and was used for signals intelligence (SIGINT) missions. – RC-135D: The fourth variant, derived from three KC-135A tankers that were modified by Lockheed for polar reconnaissance missions. It had a distinctive nose radome and was used to monitor Soviet missile tests. – RC-135E: The fifth variant, derived from one C-135B transport that was modified by E-Systems for electronic warfare (EW) missions. It had a large antenna on top of the fuselage and was nicknamed “Lisa Ann”. It was later transferred to the US Navy as EC-24A. – RC-135M: The sixth variant, derived from seven KC-135A tankers that were modified by LTV for SIGINT missions in support of US Navy operations. It had additional antennas under the wings and fuselage and was used in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. – RC-135S: The seventh variant, derived from three C-135A transports that were modified by General Dynamics for strategic reconnaissance missions. It had a large black radome under the rear fuselage and was used to track ballistic missile launches. It was also known as “Cobra Ball”. – RC-135U: The eighth variant, derived from two KC-135A tankers that were modified by E-Systems for electronic intelligence (ELINT) missions. It had distinctive wingtip pods and nose cones and was used to collect radar emissions. It was also known as “Combat Sent”. – RC-135V/W: The ninth variant, derived from 22 RC-135C/M aircraft that were upgraded by L3 Technologies with new engines, avionics, and reconnaissance systems. It is the most advanced and capable variant of the RC-135 family and is used for SIGINT missions. It is also known as “Rivet Joint”.