Page 49 - Aviation News (February 2020)

Combined with greatly reduced a “reliable and secure way to
warning times and use of a wider deliver large data sets from
range of launch sites considerably various international locations in
complicates monitoring them. As a short period of time”. An ever-
reported by the UPI press agency, present issue for small fleets of
from April 2019 onwards one RC- specialised aircraft is that when
135S operated from Kadena AB one is sent for maintenance or
on Okinawa, joined by a second updating, it imposes increased
aircraft in June. Cobra Balls 61- pressure on those remaining.
2662 and 62-4128 have been When it returns to service, until
recorded flying missions to the East the other airframes have passed
China Sea and the Sea of Japan. through the same process,
Additional pressure on there are different equipment
Cobra Ball operations has been standards with knock-on training
caused by the requirement to and logistics effects.
have aircraft return to Offutt Three aircraft make up
every 200 flight hours for the current Cobra Ball fleet
programmed maintenance and operated by the 45th RS: 61-
for a replacement aircraft to be 2662, 61-2663 and 62-4128.
in place. The operational tempo for these
A September 2018 unclassified aircraft and their crews is likely
USAF briefing for industry to further increase due to the
detailed the challenges facing recent abandonment of the US-
the Cobra Ball fleet. These Russian Intermediate Nuclear
included the lack of dedicated Forces Treaty, wider missile
simulators for training on their technology proliferation and
highly specialised equipment fit the development of land-based
and the limited aircraft availability anti-satellite weapons. As yet
because of the high operational there is no replacement on the
tempo. Another long-term horizon for the long-serving
requirement outlined was for Cobra Balls.
Above: A view looking towards the rear of an RC-135S. The Cobra Ball mission crew consists of eight people, seated at stations along the starboard
side of the fuselage. Lt Col Kingdon Hawes (ret’d)
Below: In 1994, the Cobra Ball mission became the responsibility of the 55th Wing at Offutt AFB, Nebraska and the aircraft gained ‘OF’ tailcodes.
This angle on 61-2662 illustrates the phased array radar ‘cheeks’ and antennas of the RC-135S. Chris Lofting

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