BOEING KC-135 'Stratotanker'

Strategic flight refuelling tanker/transport with numerous C-135 special-mission variants (not all with tanker capability).

Between 1957 and 1965, the US Air Force received 729 KC-135A tankers, 18 C-135A and 30 C-135B transports, 14 EC-135C and three EC-135J command posts, four RC-135A and 10 RC-135C survey aircraft (B and C versions have turbofans).
Current US Air Force fleet is 730 aircraft of all versions, including:

One NC-135A, NKC-135E, TC-135S, TC-135W, and RC-135X.
Two C-135As, EC-135Ks, RC-135S, RC-135Us, and RC-135Ys.
Three C-135Cs, and C-135Es.
Four EC-135As, C-135Bs, KC-135Ds, EC-135Es, EC-135Gs, EC-135Hs, EC-135Js, and EC-135Ps.
Five EC-135Ls.
Six RC-135Ws.
Seven WC-135Bs.
Eight RC-135Vs.
Ten NKC-135As (excluding two for the US Navy).
Thirteen EC-135Cs.
63 KC-135Es, 54 KC-135Qs, and 411 KC-135A/R.

From 1975 to 7 November 1988 Boeing extended life of every KC-135 beyond year 2020 by replacing sections of underwing skins and other modifications.
Some include a selection of 97.9 kN (22,000 lb st) CFM56-2B-1 turbofans replaced on National Guard and AFRes KC-135As.
Another 23 special missions aircrafts were re-engined with used airline JT3D-3B turbofans between 1981 and 1988.

After the development of the KC-135, USAF's Strategic Air Command required an airborne command post (ABCP).
The aircraft's role is to be airborne at all times in the event of a devastating strike against SAC ground control centres.
This command post would be able to still command strategic forces while moving and high above the ground.
Therefor 17 TF33 enginged KC-135B tankers were delivered with advanced communications systems, in-flight refeulling was added, and work areas and living space was also designed in the large cabin area.
By 1964, these aircrafts were redesignated EC-135C, and in mid-1990s 13 of these aircrafts remained in service.
Over the years, there has been many EC-135 varients.

The EC-135A was used as a communications relay aircraft, used to double in the ABCP role.
The EC-135G were used as airborne control centres for ballistic missile launch or double for communications relay.
The EC-135H was used in European operations but withdrawn in 1992.
The EC-135J were used as National Emergency Airborne Command Posts then later transferred to the Pacific airforce.
The EC-135K were used as fighter deployment sheppherds, and the EC-135P were used as Tactical Air Command airborne command posts.
The EC-135L are used as SAC Communications relay aircraft with in-flight refeulling capabilities.
The EC-135N were used for satellite tracking and other space activities.
The EC-135B ARIA (Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft) was equipped with a steerable antenna in a bulbous nose radome.

These aircrafts were first used by the 1370th Photo mapping Wing of the Military Aircraft Command of the USAF.
These planes had cameras behind three ports under the fuselage, and aft of the nosewheel.
The palne also carried special equipment for electronic surveillance.
These planes were later on converted into tankers as KC-135D.
But in the mid 1960s, RC-135B were built with a KC-13B airframe and TF33-P-9 turbofan engines. This aircraft was used in many operations, serving different functions.
Later on, they were rebuilt with side-looking airborne radar (SLAR), undernose radomes, and a ventral camera, and was redesignated the RC-135C.
The RC-135D and RC-135E was a RC-135B with a modifeid SLAR and thimble-nose radome.
Later on, the RC-135M was used as electronic reconnaissance aircraft with thimble nose, teardrop fairings on each side of the fuselage forward of the tailplane, and a twin-lobe ventral aerial.
Other recon rebuilds were the RC-153S and a TC-135S used as a trainer.
Each had a large external dipole aerial and a variety of pods.
The RC-135T was used for classified electronic surveillance for SAC.
Other conversions included: RC-135U, RC-135V, RC-135W, TC-135W, and RC-135X.
3 view drawing of RC-135V.

DIMENSIONS: (KC-135)
Wingspan:	39.88 m	130 ft 10 in
Length overall:	41.53 m	136 ft 3 in
Height overall:	11.68 m	38 ft 4 in
WEIGHTS AND LOADINGS: (basic tanker version):
Operating weight empty:	44,663 kg	98,466 lb
Max T-O weight:	134 715 kg
PERFORMANCE: (refuelling missions at max T-O weight):
Average cruising speed at 9300-13,700 m (30,500-45,000 ft):	462 knots	856 km/h; 532 mph
Rate of climb at S/L:	393 m/min	1290 ft/min
Rate of climb at S/L, one engine out:	177 m/min	580 ft/min
T-O run:	2760 m
Landing run:	580 m