RAF RC-135 article in Daily Mail

[lambo17841]

Report in todays D/M states RAF are looking at buying RC-135 to replace Nimrod,nothing like being up to date with a story as this was announced ages ago and RAF crews have been training on the replacements for ages!

John

[Hawkkeeper]

crews are in training with USAF & the 3 a/c are being modified by Boeing


http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Defen ... ce2020.htm

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Defen ... gramme.htm

[stonesfan]

Does anyone know what airframes are going to be used and when they originally entered service as a 707? I would have thought the Daily Mail would have had a field day with the potential headlines there

'RAF orders in 40 year old aircraft as austerity cuts hit home'......

[FGR2]

Aren't they going to be nearer 50 years old when we get them. They are the last of the KC-135 tankers that were built, that are being converted to RC-135 spec.

[stonesfan]

Aren't they going to be nearer 50 years old when we get them. They are the last of the KC-135 tankers that were built, that are being converted to RC-135 spec.

Ahh, so these entered service as a 135 rather than a 707? We're these originally designated Boeing 717?

[Unknown74]

Would a Sentinal type of Aircraft not be better than the RC-135?

[stratocaster]

I'd have thought the Nimrod replacement was going to be an Airbus military built airframe?

[Russ]

I guess the RC-135 is the "low risk" and more affordable option. Can all the relevant gear fit into the Sentinel airframe? Questionable. Similarly to an Airbus design, it would all need to be tested, which would take time and money. What we do know is that the RC-135 gear (including airframe) is proven and does do the job.

[Kenny]

So when we get these, will we lose the Sentinel?

[Kenny]

What we do know is that the RC-135 gear (including airframe) is proven and does do the job.

Plus the commonality with the 707 airframe, will the pilots be able to cover the other, i.e RC-135 fill in for E-3D and vice versa?

[Russ]

So when we get these, will we lose the Sentinel?

Different roles Kenny, although they are both ISTAR platforms.

Sentinel fleet is scheduled to (stupidly) be retired once we're done in Afghanistan. Although there's some speculation because of it's usefulness in Libya that decision could be revoked.

[capercaillie]

What we do know is that the RC-135 gear (including airframe) is proven and does do the job.

Plus the commonality with the 707 airframe, will the pilots be able to cover the other, i.e RC-135 fill in for E-3D and vice versa?

A 707 is not a C-135, different aircraft that shared a common aerodynamic prototype.

[Kenny]

So are the flight decks completely different to each other then?

[capercaillie]

So are the flight decks completely different to each other then?

http://www.aero-news.net/images/content/military/2010/USAF-RC135-RivetJoint-0810a.jpg

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/8/1/0/1815018.jpg


Lots of knobs and dials and buttons and stick things but some differences. Rivet Joint first, Sentry second.

[Kenny]

I just presumed it'd be the same type rating (or whatever the military call it)

[Kip Casper]

Would a Sentinal type of Aircraft not be better than the RC-135?

Funny you should mention that:

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... r1-370715/

[Wes_Howes]

Would the Sentinals not be useful to fulfill the MRA role vacated by the Nimrod? At least until P-8 is chosen as a replacement Obviously some of the equipment will need to be altered but still, if they can do it over land, they can do it over water surely?

[iainpeden]

They do not have the capacity to drop flares or rescue equipment; however as a command aircraft I assume they could do a good job.

[DanO1978]

To clarify the spelling - Sentinel, NOT Sentinal.

[Last Lightning]

Does anyone know what airframes are going to be used

ZZ664----KC-135R 64-14833
ZZ665----KC-135R 64-14838
ZZ666----KC-135R 64-14830

[parsley]

Would the Sentinals not be useful to fulfill the MRA role vacated by the Nimrod? At least until P-8 is chosen as a replacement Obviously some of the equipment will need to be altered but still, if they can do it over land, they can do it over water surely?

The cynical part of me sees a low cost replacement for the Nimrod with the Sentinels and Shadows especially as Raytheon are touting maritime patrol as a possible future role...hey look voter not only do we have a replacement for the Nimrod but more aircraft than we would have had Nimrods

[Arthur Tee]

Does anyone know what airframes are going to be used

ZZ664----KC-135R 64-14833
ZZ665----KC-135R 64-14838
ZZ666----KC-135R 64-14830

First flight dates according to Taxiwayalpha.com are:

ZZ664 29th October 1964
ZZ665 11th December 1964
ZZ666 12th October 1964

Boeing certainly didn't hang around in those days when it came to pushing airframes off the production line!

Arthur

[Orion]

Would a Sentinal type of Aircraft not be better than the RC-135?

Funny you should mention that:

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... r1-370715/

Yes, I noticed this too. IWHT that this would make an excellent choice for surveillance for the time being. After all there isn't an immediate military threat to Britain.

Regards

[Wes_Howes]

After all there isn't an immediate military threat to Britain.

In reality, has there been or will there ever be a significant military threat, since the Berlin Wall came down? I can't see war happening on a Global scale, certainly not in my life time, unless of course we do use up all the natural resources. But then we wouldn't be able to fight it anyway

[JBartlett]

They do not have the capacity to drop flares or rescue equipment; however as a command aircraft I assume they could do a good job.

Might not have the capacity to drop flares or rescue equipment but it could do what Paul Francis said below.

Paul Francis, Raytheon UK's head of airborne solutions, says the Sentinel's dual-mode radar could also possibly be given software-based changes to enable it to provide a maritime patrol capability to search for, track and identify surface vessels.

and the same about the Shadow R1

If retained long-term, the type could possibly also provide a maritime patrol capability by being equipped with Raytheon's SeaVue radar, Francis says

. that link Kip casper posted is quite interesting hope that happens to both aircraft, just think its stupid to retire good worthy aircraft.


Cheers
James.