rc-135u combat sent - offutt air force base
TRANSCRIPT
I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e
Headquarters U.S. Air Force
RC-135U Combat Sent
Capt Logan Schrank
45 RS/DOF-C
8 Sep 17
Version 1
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RC-135U Combat Sent
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History
17 Apr 1970: “COMBAT SENT” program established to meet AF
need for scientific and technical collection capability
1971-1974: 3 RC-135C converted to RC-135U
Tails 847, 792, 849
1975: Tail 792 converted to Rivet Joint
1975 to Present: 2 RC-135U
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Baseline Upgrades
Onboard reconnaissance systems and flight deck equipment go
through regular modifications
Modifications are called “Baseline” upgrades
Currently Baseline 5 (BL5)
Upgrades occur during extensive depot repair cycle and
modernization every ~4 years
Airframe and systems disassembled, inspected, upgraded
Reconnaissance systems replaced or modernized
Accomplished by L3 Communication in Greenville, TX
Oversight by 645 AESS
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Aircraft Overview
2 Mission aircraft (847, 849)
849 : Depot Maintenance (Greenville, TX)
847 : Currently deployable
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Data provided by Capt Michael Mann and is current as of 11 Jul 17
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Performance Capabilities
Runway Requirement
8,000 feet minimum
Max T/O Weight: 322.5K lbs
Operating Altitudes
1,000 – 42,000 feet
Speed (TAS)
Cruise: 420 – 450 kts
Loiter: 380 kts
Un-refueled range
3600 nm or 8 hours duration
Maximum Duty Duration
Up to 24 hours (augmented & air-refueled)
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Crew Composition
2 Pilots
1 Navigators
8 Raven positions
6 Mission Area Specialist
operator positions
3 ASE positions
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Pilot
Co-pilot
Navigators
OPR 6
OPR 5
Raven 4
Raven 5
Raven 3 TC
IMT 1
IMT 2Raven 2
Raven 1 AMS
OPR 3
OPR 4
OPR 2
Crew Rest 3-8
Raven 9 Raven 8
Crew Rest 1-2
Unclassified
Unclassified
4-9IMT-2
AMT-1
Augmented Aircrew – Add 1 AC/IP and 1 Nav
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Crew Composition
Ravens
R1/2 (PRISMS) – Operates the primary platform sensor
R3/4/5 (Manuals) – Performs fine grain analysis of signals;
provides threat warning for the mission aircraft
R9 (CORVUS) – Operates the automatic collection system;
builds locations and identifies emitters
R6/8 (Tactical Coordinator/Fusion) – Directs the efforts of the
ELINT compartment to ensure national and theater tasking is
satisfied and produce the OPREP
ASEs
Monitor and test computer systems onboard the aircraft;
repairs affected equipment during flight
Mission Area Specialists
Threat Warning
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Collection Capabilities
Collect fine-grain information to enhance future weapon systems
while performing NRT reporting
Intercept, identify, locate, and exploit electronic signals for
Scientific and Technical analysis
Defensive systems improvements
Capabilities of targets (strengths and weaknesses)
Threat avoidance planning
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Missions
Sensitive Reconnaissance Operations (SRO)
National Tech ELINT tasking from NSA-C
Foreign Materiel Exploitation (FME)
Test and Evaluation of Red Forces systems in a controlled
environment and ideal collection posture
Operational Test & Evaluation (OT&E)
Test and evaluation of Blue Forces systems in a controlled
environment and ideal collection posture
Developmental Test & Evaluation (DT&E)
Test and evaluation of non-operational systems in research
and development phase
Contingency Operations
Tactical SIGINT collection and NRT reporting
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Calibration Sorties
Most prominent local HHQ sortie
Pre-deployment and Post-deployment
Calibrations every 60 days per NSA-C
Ensures validity of collected data from:
Relevant antennas
Frequency bands
Flown in the vicinity of Greenville, TX
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Deployment
5 to 6 planned Tech ELINT deployments per year
Durations of 30 – 90 days
Multiple OL’s per deployment are possible
NSA-Colorado retains SIGINT Operator Tasking Authority (SOTA)
over Combat Sent while deployed
National Tech ELINT tasking takes priority over
COCOM tasking
Multiple consumers for Combat Sent data
NSA, NASIC, ONI, CIA, NTI, DEFSMAC, JSF, etc.
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Operating Locations
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PACOM
EIELSON AFB*
OFFUTT AFB
55WG EUCOM
NSA SOUDA BAY
DET 1, 95 RS
EUCOM
RAF MILDENHALL
95 RS
CENTCOM
AL UDEID AB
763 ERS
CENTCOM / PACOM
DIEGO GARCIA*
B.I.O.T.
*Requires Additional Support
PACOM
KADENA AB
82 RS
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Summary
History
Aircraft Overview
Crew Composition
Collection Capabilities
Missions
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RC-135U Combat Sent
Questions?
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