NATO heightens surveillance: British RC‑135 monitors Russia
The British Royal Air Force's Boeing RC-135 took off on Friday, 18th October, from Waddington base and charted a course eastward. It entered Polish airspace and continued towards the Kaliningrad Oblast, where it monitored Russian movements for another day.
The reconnaissance Boeing RC-135 has recently been a frequent presence in Polish skies. It regularly appears near the Kaliningrad Oblast, completing several circuits around this Russian area.
British reconnaissance aircraft over Poland
On Friday, 18th October, NATO dispatched a British Royal Air Force aircraft to monitor Russian movements. The Boeing RC-135, with registration ZZ665 and callsign RRR7218, dedicated another day to observing the NATO border.
The RC-135 aircraft, part of the C-135 family, has undergone numerous and significant upgrades. They are equipped with advanced digital onboard systems and CFM56 high-bypass turbofan engines, greatly enhancing their performance.
Advanced reconnaissance machine
The RC-135 utilises the AELS (Automatic Emitter Locating System) and PPMS (Precision Power Measurement System) in its operations. The AELS detects sources of electromagnetic emissions, while the PPMS allows for precise measurement of radiation power and analysis of its source.
The RC-135 model is based on the design of the Boeing C-135 Stratolifter transport aircraft. It is 136 feet long and has a wingspan of 131 feet. This aircraft can reach a maximum speed of 580 mph and has a range of up to 5,655 miles. These characteristics enable the RC-135U to conduct long-duration reconnaissance missions. According to available data, only two or three examples of this model exist.
