Boeing RC-135U Combat Sent, 64-14849 / 18789, US Air Force
This picture is © Martin Laycock and may not be used or published without permission.
Registration: 64-14849
Construction Number: 18789
Code Number: OF
Military Unit: 55 SRW
Model Boeing RC-135U Combat Sent
Operator: US Air Force
Airport: RAF Fairford (FFD / EGVA), UK - England
Airshow: Fairford - IAT - 1993
Photographer: Martin Laycock
Date Taken: 22/07/1993
Date Submitted: 11/10/2009
Rare RC-135U photographed arriving at IAT93. Only three RC-135Us were converted from RC-135C BIG TEAM airframes, one was later upgraded to RC-135V RIVET JOINT configuration. The two remaining COMBAT SENT airframes (the other being 64-14847) are based at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Their mission is to gather strategic Scientific and Technical Electronic Intelligence (ELINT)in particular that relating to foreign military land, naval and airborne radar systems. They are equipped with highly classified intelligence gathering equipment with antennae arrays on the nose, tail, and wing tips. Collected data is also stored for further analysis. The systems employed in the COMBAT SENT mission include the Precision Power Measurement System (PPMS) and an Automatic ELINT Emitter Locator System (AEELS).
Picture ID:1197200