The RC-135 is a 4-engine military multi-intelligence (MULTI-INT) collections jet aircraft operated by the militaries of the United States and the United Kingdom. The airframe is manufactured by American aerospace firm Boeing with technical configurations for collections provided by a consortium of defense contractors. Due to the technical and highly specialized nature of the missions that the aircraft performs, its cargo and non-pilot crew vary and are typically classified at the secret and top secret levels. Its flight crew includes two pilots and two navigators.
The RC-135 is built on the Boeing C-135 Stratolifter airframe, which was developed from the Boeing 367-80, the same developmental platform from which the company’s commercial 707 was derived. The RC-135 was introduced in 1961 and it remains in service with the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force.
The RC-135 can perform a number of technical intelligence collections mission types, including signals intelligence (SIGINT), communications intelligence (COMINT), and measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT). Signals intelligence collects intentionally transmitted signals, such as cellular phone calls. Communications intelligence analyzes the specifics of transmissions (such as if a signal is encrypted, and if so, how). Measurement and signature intelligence is a very broad and highly complex form of intelligence that typically analyzes unintentionally transmitted emissions, such as those from a laptop computer. The RC-135 is one of the most important aircraft used in national defense for both the United States and the United Kingdom. A total of 32 have been manufactured.
The RC-135 measures 136 feet, 3 inches in length, stands 41 feet, 8 inches tall, and has a wingspan of 130 feet, 10 inches. It is powered by four CFM International F-108 turbofan engines that each produce up to 22,000 pounds of thrust. The jet has a range of 3,450 miles, a service ceiling of 50,000 feet above sea level, it cruises at 375 miles per hour, and it has a top speed of 580 mph.
