US puts 3 KC-135Rs forward to the UK for SIGINT
Following on the thread some months ago regarding the RC135s that the UK were looking at to replace the Nimrod R1.
I got an email just now from AIN written by Chris Pocock stating that the US have "apparently" put forward 3 KC135R airframes to be converted to "British specs" for the SIGINT role. L3 are said to be doing the conversion with their Project Helix being installed into the airframes but stated that their Project Helix could be installed into most airframes and hinted at the Nimrod MRA4 also.
If we do buy these KC135R airframes the Helix is installed will they modify them in the same way as the RC-135s with the Bottle nose radome or keep them as standard airframes only distinguishable from normal KC135s from the masses of antennas and a few bumps on the airframe?