Editing Boeing RC-135 (section)

===KC-135A Reconnaissance Platforms===
At least four KC-135A tankers were converted into makeshift reconnaissance platforms with no change of Mission Design Series (MDS) designation. KC-135As 55–3121, 55–3127, 59–1465, and 59-1514 were modified beginning in 1961. That year the Soviet Union announced its intention to detonate a 100 megaton [[Thermonuclear weapon|thermonuclear device]] on [[Novaya Zemlya]], the so-called [[Tsar Bomba]]. A testbed KC-135A (55–3127) was modified under the [[Big Safari]] program to the SPEED LIGHT BRAVO configuration in order to obtain intelligence information on the test. The success of the mission prompted conversion of additional aircraft for intelligence gathering duties.