RC-135 COMBAT SENT

Another intelligence collection aircraft variation of the basic C-135 platform, a military variant of the Boeing 707 airframe, the RC-135U COMBAT SENT is optimized for collection of electronic intelligence (ELINT) on advanced radars. While the RC-135 V/W RIVET JOINT has ELINT capability, RIVET JOINT is more targeted on communications intelligence (COMINT) than ELINT. Systems aboard the aircraft include both advanced target selection software and specialized radar signal collection.

The United States Air Force has two COMBAT SENT aircraft, part of the United States Strategic Command in joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). They are operated by the 55th Wing at Offutt AFB, Nebraska.

RC-135S COMBAT SENT. Note wingtip, tail, and other antennas

Visually, the aircraft has distinctive antennae arrays on the "chin" and wing tips, large cheek fairings, and extended tail. Crew composition includes two pilots, two navigators, two airborne systems engineers, and a minimum of 10 electronic warfare officers, or "Ravens," and six or more electronic, technical, and area specialists.

Expert System Manager

Collecting ELINT tends to be more time-critical than collecting COMINT, especially when the communications in question are conversations at human speed. ELINT targets include radars at multiple sites, which turn on and off at short intervals, and operate on different frequencies. The Expert Mission Manager software of the RC-135S contains extensive, national-level (e.g., DIA and the National Security Agency (NSA)) This software allows identifying and prioritizing signals to intercept at faster than human speed, recommends the best aircraft position and course for interception, and the best sensors to use.

Sensors

Two key systems actually intercept the signals, and deal with electronic countermeasures and low-probability of intercent technologies.

1. RF Distribution System Improvement involves the physical antennas for receiving radar, and the distribution of the radar signals to the receivers and analysis system. In particular, it is optimized for intercepting frequency agile radar.
2. Wideband Acquisition/Frequency Hopping Receiver System (FHRS) provides wideband acquisition and frequency hopping receiver system (FHRS) capability for exploitation of frequency agile threat systems.

Antenna system

Antennas and associated analysis improve the collection of information on "power, (beam) pattern, and polarization (P3)" of radar signals designed to be hard to intercept, with a wider field of view and greater sensitivity than previous signal capture systems. The systeem may use cueing from other intercept platforms (e.g., aircratt, satellites, etc.) that have better intercept geometry, or perhaps use other methods of recognizing the existence of a signal, such as COMINT from its human operators.

Receiver system

The FHRS uses distributed antennas and processing facilities to improve ELINT for frequency-agile, low-probability-of-intercept, and other difficult to process radar.