Editing Boeing RC-135 (section)

==Operational history==
The current RC-135 fleet is the latest iteration of modifications to this pool of aircraft dating back to the early 1960s. Initially employed by [[Strategic Air Command]] for reconnaissance, the RC-135 fleet has participated in every armed conflict involving U.S. forces during its tenure. RC-135s supported operations in [[Vietnam War]], the [[Mediterranean]] for [[Operation El Dorado Canyon]], [[Grenada]] for [[Operation Urgent Fury]], [[Panama]] for [[Operation Just Cause]], the [[Balkans]] for Operations [[Operation Deliberate Force|Deliberate Force]] and [[Operation Allied Force|Allied Force]], and [[Southwest Asia]] for Operations [[Desert Shield]], [[Operation Desert Storm|Desert Storm]], [[Operation Enduring Freedom|Enduring Freedom]] and [[Operation Iraqi Freedom|Iraqi Freedom]]. RC-135s have maintained a constant presence in Southwest Asia since the early 1990s. They were stalwarts of Cold War operations, with missions flown around the periphery of the USSR and its client states in Europe and around the world.

Originally, all RC-135s were operated by [[Strategic Air Command]]. Since 1992, they have been assigned to [[Air Combat Command]]. The RC-135 fleet is permanently based at [[Offutt Air Force Base]], [[Nebraska]] and operated by the [[55th Wing]], using forward operating locations worldwide.<ref name="alm08">{{cite journal| last = Young| first = Susan H.H.| year = 2008| title = 2008 USAF Almanac: Gallery of USAF Weapons| journal = AIR FORCE Magazine| volume = 91| issue = 5| pages = 145–146| url = http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/2008/May%202008/0508weapons.pdf| access-date = 15 February 2009| archive-date = 26 February 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090226192129/http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/2008/May%202008/0508weapons.pdf| url-status = usurped}}</ref>

On 9 August 2010, the Rivet Joint program recognized its 20th anniversary of continuous service in [[United States Central Command|Central Command]], dating back to the beginning of [[Gulf War|Desert Shield]]. This represents the longest unbroken presence of any aircraft in the Air Force inventory. During this time it has flown over 8,000 combat missions<ref name="usaf10">{{cite web | url = https://www.offutt.af.mil/News/story/id/123212135/ | year = 2010 | title = RJs hit 8,000 missions in AOR | publisher = Offutt Air Force Base | access-date = 25 September 2010 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110402092133/http://www.offutt.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123212135 | archive-date = 2 April 2011 }}</ref> supporting air and ground forces of Operations [[Gulf War|Desert Storm]], [[Gulf War|Desert Shield]], [[Operation Northern Watch|Northern Watch]], [[Operation Southern Watch|Southern Watch]], [[Iraq War|Iraqi Freedom]] and [[Operation Enduring Freedom|Enduring Freedom]].

In March 2010 the British [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] announced that it reached an agreement with the US Government to purchase three RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft to replace the [[Nimrod R1#R1|Nimrod R1]], which was retired in June 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100322/wmstext/100322m0001.htm#10032212000003|title=House of Commons Hansard Ministerial Statements for 22 Mar 2010 (pt 0001)|website=publications.parliament.uk|access-date=2 February 2019|archive-date=30 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130121828/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100322/wmstext/100322m0001.htm#10032212000003|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="uk08">{{cite web| year =2008| url =http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2008/UK_08-89.pdf| title =United Kingdom RC-135V/W Rivet Joint Aircraft| publisher =Defense Security Cooperation Agency| access-date =15 March 2009| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090319113012/http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2008/UK_08-89.pdf| archive-date =19 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nimrod R1 aircraft in final flight for RAF |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13942014 |publisher=BBC |date=28 June 2011 |access-date=13 July 2011 |archive-date=1 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110701115743/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13942014 |url-status=live }}</ref> The aircraft, to be styled as 'Airseeker', were scheduled to be delivered by 2017 at a total cost of around £650 million, including provision of ground infrastructure, training of personnel and ground supporting systems.<ref>{{cite web |title=British RC-135W Air Seeker Crews in Training |last=Dorr |first=Robert F. |url=http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/british-rc-135w-air-seeker-crews-in-training/ |publisher=Defense Media Network |date=22 April 2011 |access-date=13 July 2011 |archive-date=26 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126172044/http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/british-rc-135w-air-seeker-crews-in-training/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Defense Aerospace">{{cite web |date=4 September 2015 |title=New RAF Intelligence Aircraft Arrives In UK Seven Months Early |url=http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/166557/second-raf-rivet-joint-aircraft-delivered-to-uk.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126192550/http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/166557/second-raf-rivet-joint-aircraft-delivered-to-uk.html |archive-date=26 November 2015 |access-date=26 November 2015 |publisher=Defense Aerospace}}</ref> In 2013, the UK government confirmed that crews from the RAF's 51 Squadron had been training and operating alongside their USAF colleagues since 2011, having achieved in excess of 32,000 flying hours and 1,800 sorties as part of the 55th Wing at [[Offutt AFB]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-rivet-joint-aircraft-delivered-to-the-uk |title=First Rivet Joint aircraft delivered to the UK |date=12 November 2013 |publisher=UK Ministry of Defence |access-date=14 November 2013 |archive-date=12 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112153053/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-rivet-joint-aircraft-delivered-to-the-uk |url-status=live }}</ref>

The RAF received the first RC-135W in September 2013, which was deployed from July 2014 to support coalition action against the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] militants in Iraq.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevenson |first=Beth |date=21 August 2014 |title=RAF Rivet Joint on first operational deployment over Iraq |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/raf-rivet-joint-on-first-operational-deployment-over-iraq/114263.article |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926083046/https://www.flightglobal.com/raf-rivet-joint-on-first-operational-deployment-over-iraq/114263.article |archive-date=26 September 2020 |website=FlightGlobal}}</ref> The second aircraft was delivered seven months ahead of schedule in September 2015, with over sixty improvements incorporated ranging from upgrades to the aircraft's mission systems to engine improvements providing increased fuel efficiency and durability. In due course, the first aircraft will receive the same upgrades.<ref name="Defense Aerospace"/> The aircraft will be air-to-air refuelled in service by USAF tankers based in Europe, as the UK does not operate boom-equipped refueling aircraft, and has no plans to adapt drogue-equipped aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Osborne |first=Tony |date=5 July 2013 |title=RAF, USAF Work On Rivet Joint Refueling Deal |url=http://aviationweek.com/defense/raf-usaf-work-rivet-joint-refueling-deal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126181109/http://aviationweek.com/defense/raf-usaf-work-rivet-joint-refueling-deal |archive-date=26 November 2015 |access-date=26 November 2015 |website=Aviation Week}}</ref>

U.S. Air Force and Royal Air Force RC-135W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft were deployed numerous times to conduct reconnaissance missions around Poland and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad during the [[2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine]]. Stated objectives include broadcasting a clear signal that the US, and thus NATO, is aware of Russian movements in the area of operations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 October 2022 |title=U.S. military aircraft circling Kaliningrad |url=https://www.miragenews.com/us-military-aircraft-circling-kaliningrad-874017/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240107235752/https://www.miragenews.com/us-military-aircraft-circling-kaliningrad-874017/ |archive-date=7 January 2024 |access-date=22 October 2022 |website=Mirage News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=9 September 2022 |title=US Aircraft Circle Kaliningrad for the Second Day in a Row |url=https://www.lrytas.lt/it/ismanyk/2022/09/29/news/virs-lietuvos-jau-antra-diena-ratus-suka-ypatingas-karinis-jav-lektuvas-karybos-ekspertas-paaiskino-ka-tai-reiskia-24725689 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022222911/https://www.lrytas.lt/it/ismanyk/2022/09/29/news/virs-lietuvos-jau-antra-diena-ratus-suka-ypatingas-karinis-jav-lektuvas-karybos-ekspertas-paaiskino-ka-tai-reiskia-24725689 |archive-date=22 October 2022 |access-date=22 October 2022 |publisher=Lietuvos Rytas |language=Lithuanian}}</ref>