Illustrative image. (U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Tyler Woodward)
The United States Air Force has deployed a second RC-135V Rivet Joint signal intelligence aircraft Souda Air Base on the Greek island of Crete, and more appears to be on the way.
The RC-135W is the standard airborne signal intelligence platform for the U.S. Air Force. It was developed by a number of companies, including General Dynamics, Lockheed, LTV, E-Systems and L3 Technologies.
The aircraft’s sensor suite allows the mission crew to detect, identify and geolocate signals throughout the electromagnetic spectrum. The mission crew can then forward gathered information in a variety of formats to a wide range of consumers via Rivet Joint’s extensive communications suite.
The first RC-135V arrived in Souda Air Base after a very brief deployment at Al Udeid Air Base close to the Qatari capital, Doha.
The second one appeared at the air base in a satellite image released by China’s Mizarvision on February 23. It reportedly flew all the way from Homestead Air Reserve Base in Florida. The same image shows 11 KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling tankers at the base.
Click to see full-size image. (MizarVision)
The U.S. Air Force may also be preparing to deploy at least three additional RC-135 to Greece, or the Middle East. The aircraft, which took off from the U.S. mainland on February 23, are two RC-135W and one RC-135S.
One of the RC-135W is reported to be indeed heading to Souda Air Base. The other one to RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom. The designation of the RC-135S is unclear, however.
RC-135S Cobra Ball is a very special version. It is a measurement and signature intelligence collector equipped with special electro-optical instruments such an all weather tracking radar and medium wave infrared array designed to observe ballistic missile flights at long range.
Click to see full-size image. (Flightradar24/X)
The deployment of these aircraft is not surprising. The U.S. military buildup in the region gained momentum in recent days. Dozens of warplanes were sent to the region, and the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group entered the Mediterranean Sea. According to various estimates, the U.S. is very much now ready to launch an attack against the Islamic Republic.
A report published by The New York Times on February 23 said that U.S. President Donald Trump is considering launching a limited strike on Iran in the immediate future to pressure Tehran to agree to his nuclear demands.
The newspaper cited sources familiar with Trump administration discussions. It said that the initial strike could target command centers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, ballistic missile sites, or nuclear infrastructure.
And it said that if these strikes do not yield results, a much larger offensive could come later this year with the goal of overthrowing the regime.
The latest developments came as the two sides are expected to meet again in Geneva on February 26. An agreement seems highly unlikely.
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