US puts 3 KC-135Rs forward to the UK for SIGINT
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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?
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?
Second hand A340's from Qatar.....bags of space and power.Join Date: Jul 2000
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To be fair, the article in question doesn't actually say that the 'RAF RC-135s' will be fitted with the Helix kit.
L-3 handles the RJ fleet as well as the Helix contract - who's to say that the two aren't quite similar anyway?
L-3 handles the RJ fleet as well as the Helix contract - who's to say that the two aren't quite similar anyway?
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"A340"....."power"...all in the same sentence!!
In my Boeing saturated world, the A340 was always referred to as the one that required the curvature of the earth to takeoff!!!
In my Boeing saturated world, the A340 was always referred to as the one that required the curvature of the earth to takeoff!!!
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When this proceeds, will we see 51 Sqn move to Mildenhall for colocation of type? If i were a betting man i say that you might well indeed. 
Damn it! Corrected by an ALM, a fixed wing one at that
Thanks!
Damn it! Corrected by an ALM, a fixed wing one at that
Thanks!
Last edited by VARIABLE_KNIFE; 23rd Jul 2008 at 19:26.
Wonderful Media Reporting (Again)
From that wonderful local newspaper The Lincolnshire Echo
The BBC must get their reporters from the local newspapers.
Nimrod spy planes that fly over the skies of Lincolnshire may be scrapped, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.
The MoD is considering axing three Nimrod spy planes based at RAF Waddington and replacing them with American RC-135 Rivet Joints.
The spy planes, operated by 52 Squadron, are due for an upgrade as part of a £3bn programme to refurbish the entire Nimrod fleet.
But the upgrades are now well behind schedule and millions over budget.
An MoD spokesman said: "We are considering a range of options to continue the capability currently provided by the Nimrod R1 until around 2025 - namely airborne electronic surveillance.
"As part of this work we are currently considering acquisition of the Rivet Joint system as an option to meet the capability requirement."
The decision to look at the future of all Nimrods follows an inquest where its aged design was blamed for a crash in Afghanistan which claimed the lives of 14 servicemen.
Craig Hoyle of Flight International said: "There have certainly been quite a lot of rumours about getting the Rivet Joints and the fact that the MoD has confirmed it is under consideration is significant."
The MoD is considering axing three Nimrod spy planes based at RAF Waddington and replacing them with American RC-135 Rivet Joints.
The spy planes, operated by 52 Squadron, are due for an upgrade as part of a £3bn programme to refurbish the entire Nimrod fleet.
But the upgrades are now well behind schedule and millions over budget.
An MoD spokesman said: "We are considering a range of options to continue the capability currently provided by the Nimrod R1 until around 2025 - namely airborne electronic surveillance.
"As part of this work we are currently considering acquisition of the Rivet Joint system as an option to meet the capability requirement."
The decision to look at the future of all Nimrods follows an inquest where its aged design was blamed for a crash in Afghanistan which claimed the lives of 14 servicemen.
Craig Hoyle of Flight International said: "There have certainly been quite a lot of rumours about getting the Rivet Joints and the fact that the MoD has confirmed it is under consideration is significant."
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When this proceeds, will we see 51 Sqn move to Mildenhall for colocation of type? If i were a betting man i say that you might well indeed
I don't think the UK will operate the old RJ's with noisy smokey engines and go more towards the larger turbofan powered RJ's so even more commonality with the E-3D surely?
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Spare RJs
It's no wonder that there are a pile of spare RJs:
Global Hawk RQ-4B
"Another payload scheduled to be installed on the Global Hawk is the Airborne Signals Intelligence Program (ASIP) SIGINT payload, capable of monitoring electronic signals up to 500 km away. ASIP will augment the sensor suite used on previous aircraft. The US Air Force plans to field 26 Block 30 aircraft which will share the same platform of Block 20 and 40 but will be equipped with the ASIP systems instead of the standard EO/SAR payload. These aircraft will become operational by 2012 augmenting the units currently operating by the 9th Recce wing at BealE AFB."
So why don't we take a leaf out of their book and leapfrog the next airframe straight to a UAV platform that has longer endurance, greater range, less risk (to the highly qualified and experienced operators/analysts) and is available now?
Global Hawk RQ-4B
"Another payload scheduled to be installed on the Global Hawk is the Airborne Signals Intelligence Program (ASIP) SIGINT payload, capable of monitoring electronic signals up to 500 km away. ASIP will augment the sensor suite used on previous aircraft. The US Air Force plans to field 26 Block 30 aircraft which will share the same platform of Block 20 and 40 but will be equipped with the ASIP systems instead of the standard EO/SAR payload. These aircraft will become operational by 2012 augmenting the units currently operating by the 9th Recce wing at BealE AFB."
So why don't we take a leaf out of their book and leapfrog the next airframe straight to a UAV platform that has longer endurance, greater range, less risk (to the highly qualified and experienced operators/analysts) and is available now?
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Razor61
your correct
kc135r's are fitted with CFM 56's.
JTO
707 - carries the AWACS kit with ease, yep
707 - carries the RJ kit with ease, its not a 707
707 - carries the ASTOR kit with ease... ive been told it doesn't carry it a high as a GX, which is a limitation, on the other hand no need to ship a ground based trailer about the place
your correct
kc135r's are fitted with CFM 56's.
JTO
707 - carries the AWACS kit with ease, yep
707 - carries the RJ kit with ease, its not a 707
707 - carries the ASTOR kit with ease... ive been told it doesn't carry it a high as a GX, which is a limitation, on the other hand no need to ship a ground based trailer about the place
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There has been a RJ endlessly circling AARA12 out west of St Mawgan for hours on end the past week and up nearly everyday on test flights.
Does anyone know if this is to do with the familiarisation programme for the UK's RJ force? If so, they are not hanging about.
Does anyone know if this is to do with the familiarisation programme for the UK's RJ force? If so, they are not hanging about.
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707 - carries the ASTOR kit with ease... ive been told it doesn't carry it a high as a GX, which is a limitation, on the other hand no need to ship a ground based trailer about the place
The E-8C is a phenomenal bit of wizardry right up until they put it on used 707s with JT8Ds. Gas guzzling, underpowered, endlessly leaking pieces of sh1t. But other than that......
Still, the crap engines made for nice TDYs in my day since we couldn't stay at places close the fight.
Not so much anymore.....(sorry guys/gals)
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"The E-8C is a phenomenal bit of wizardry right up until they put it on used 707s with JT8Ds."
i have to admit i'm confused that in the grand scheme of the USAF's budget they've not not found the cash to fit them with CFM's if there is one thing you'd want the extra endurance/height on it'd be that?
i have to admit i'm confused that in the grand scheme of the USAF's budget they've not not found the cash to fit them with CFM's if there is one thing you'd want the extra endurance/height on it'd be that?