Boeing RC-135 - fotografie a video

Komisia Boeing RC-135 je skupina veľkých prieskumných lietadiel postavených spoločnosťou Boeing a upravených mnohých spoločností vrátane spoločností General Dynamics, Lockheed, LTV, E-Systems a L3 Technologies a používaných vzdušnými silami Spojených štátov a Kráľovskými vzdušnými silami na podporu spotrebiteľov spravodajských služieb na divadelnej a národnej úrovni s takmer v reálnom čase na mieste zberu, analýzy a šírenia informácií. Na základe lietadla C-135 Stratolifter sú od roku 1961 v prevádzke rôzne typy RC-135. Na rozdiel od C-135 a KC-135, ktoré Boeing uznáva ako model 717, spoločnosť interne označila RC-135 za model 739. Mnoho variantov bolo mnohokrát upravených, čo viedlo k širokej škále označení, konfigurácií a názvov programov.

Zdrojový: Boeing RC-135 na Wikipédii

Boeing RC-135 je veľké prieskumné lietadlo, ktoré sa používa na fotografické a elektronické spravodajské misie. Je založený na Boeingu C-135 Stratolifter, dopravnom a cisternovom lietadle, ktoré bolo vyvinuté z Boeingu 707. RC-135 bol upravený rôznymi spoločnosťami, ako sú General Dynamics, Lockheed, LTV, E-Systems a L3 Technologies, aby niesol rôzne typy senzorov a zariadení. RC-135 je v prevádzke s americkým letectvom a Royal Air Force od roku 1961 a zúčastnil sa mnohých konfliktov a operácií po celom svete.
RC-135 má štyri turbodúchadlové motory CFM International CFM56, ktoré poskytujú maximálnu rýchlosť 933 km / h a dosah 5 500 km. Lietadlo má 27-člennú posádku, vrátane troch pilotov, dvoch navigátorov a 22 ďalších členov, ktorí obsluhujú prieskumné systémy. RC-135 má rozpätie krídel 39,88 m, dĺžku 41,53 ma výšku 12,7 m. Lietadlo nemá žiadnu výzbroj ani obranné systémy, ale spolieha sa na svoje elektronické protiopatrenia a sprievodné stíhačky na ochranu.
RC-135 má mnoho variantov, ktoré sú označené rôznymi písmenami a menami, v závislosti od ich konkrétneho poslania a konfigurácie. Niektoré z najbežnejších variantov sú:
– 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”.