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Three U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing, Roy-al Air Force Mildenhall, England, sit on the flightline before conducting air-refueling operations during Exercise Wolff Pack at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Sept. 30, 2020. Aircraft were dis-persed throughout Europe to test the 100th ARW’s ability to generate rapid aerial refueling capabil-ity from a diverse set of air bases. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joseph Barron)

AIRCRAFT

KC-135 STRATOTANKER

Mission

The KC-135 Stratotanker provides the core aerial refueling capability for the United States Air Force and has excelled in this role for more than 60 years. This unique asset enhances the Air Force's capability to accomplish its primary mission of global reach. It also provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied nation aircraft. The KC-135 is also capable of transporting litter and ambulatory patients using patient support pallets during aeromedical evacuations.

Air Force Fact Sheet

RC-135V/W Rivet Joint

Mission
The RC-135V/W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft supports theater and national level consumers with near real time on-scene intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination capabilities.

Features
The aircraft is an extensively modified C-135. The Rivet Joint's modifications are primarily related to its on-board sensor suite, which 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.

Air Force Fact Sheet

MC-130J Commando II

Mission
The Commando II flies clandestine, or low visibility, single or multiship, low-level infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces, by airdrop or airland and air refueling missions for special operations helicopters and tiltrotor aircraft, intruding politically sensitive or hostile territories. The MC-130J primarily flies missions at night to reduce probability of visual acquisition and intercept by airborne threats. Its secondary mission includes the airdrop of leaflets.

Air Force Fact Sheet

CV-22 OSPREY

Mission
The CV-22 Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft that combines the vertical takeoff, hover and vertical landing qualities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficiency and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. The mission of the CV-22 is to conduct long-range infiltration, exfiltration and resupply missions for special operations forces.

Air Force Fact Sheet