British RC‑135 flies high over Poland to monitor Russia
A Boeing RC-135 belonging to the British Air Force took off early on Friday, October 18, around 6 AM Eastern Time, from the Waddington base near Birmingham and headed eastward. It entered Polish airspace, continuing towards the Kaliningrad region to monitor Russian activity for the day.
10:01 AM EDT, October 18, 2024
Recently, the reconnaissance Boeing RC-135 has become a frequent visitor to Polish skies. It regularly operates near the Kaliningrad region, making several loops around this Russian area.
British reconnaissance aircraft over poland
On Friday, October 18, NATO deployed a British Air Force aircraft to monitor Russian movements. The Boeing RC-135 registered as ZZ665 and using the callsign RRR7218, observed the NATO border for the second consecutive day.
The RC-135 aircraft, part of the C-135 family, has undergone numerous significant upgrades. They are equipped with advanced onboard digital systems and CFM56 high-bypass turbofan engines, significantly enhancing their efficiency.
Advanced reconnaissance machine
The RC-135 uses the AELS (Automatic Emitter Locating System) and PPMS (Precision Power Measurement System). 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 Boeing C-135 Stratolifter transport design. It is approximately 136 feet long, with a wingspan of about 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-term reconnaissance missions. Currently, there are only two or three units of this model, according to available data.
