Boeing EC-135

Boeing EC-135
Boeing EC-135C Looking Glass with Pacer Link modification
General information
Type	Airborne Command Post, Airborne Launch Control Center, Tracking and Telemetry Platform, Airborne Radio Relay
Manufacturer	Boeing
Status	Retired from service
Primary user	United States Air Force
History
Introduction date	1965
Retired	2000
Developed from	C-135 Stratolifter

The Boeing EC-135 is a retired family of command and control aircraft derived from the Boeing C-135 Stratolifter. During the Cold War, the EC-135 was best known for being modified to perform the Looking Glass mission where one EC-135 was always airborne 24 hours a day to serve as flying command post for the Strategic Air Command in the event of nuclear war. Various other EC-135 aircraft sat on airborne and ground alert throughout the Cold War, with the last EC-135C being retired in 1998. The EC-135N variant served as the tracking aircraft for the Apollo program.

The Boeing E-6B Mercury "TACAMO" replaced the EC-135C.