RC-135S Cobra Ball

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The RC-135S Cobra Ball is a United States Air Force reconnaissance aircraft equipped with special optical instruments designed to observe ballistic missile flights at long range. The aircraft is an extensively modified C-135 Stratolifter. There are two aircraft in service and they are part of the 55th Wing, 45th Reconnaissance Squadron based at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Cobra Ball aircraft were originally assigned to Shemya, Alaska and used to observe ballistic missile tests on the Kamchatka peninsula in conjunction with Cobra Dane and Cobra Judy.

[edit] Aircraft associated with Cobra Ball

Type Registration / Serial Number

• RC-135S 61-2662 / cn 18292 - converted C-135B, NC-135B, AFSC-ASD back-up to communications satellite
• RC-135S 61-2663 / cn 18333 - converted C-135B, VC-135B
• RC-135S 61-2664 / cn 18340 - (Lost March 15, 1981 at Shemya)[1]
• JC-135B 62-4128 / cn 18468 - converted C-135B, EC-135N, RC-135X Cobra Eye, RC-135S Cobra Ball, AFSC-ASD

[edit] External links

• Cobra Ball - Federation of American Scientists
• RC- 135S Cobra Ball Air Force's optical intelligence collection platform - Federation of American Scientists
• "A Tale of Two Airplanes" by Kingdon R. Hawes