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Boeing OC-135B Open Skies
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (March 2013) |
| OC-135 Open Skies | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Observation Support/Support Open Skies Treaty |
| Manufacturer | Boeing Defense, Space & Security |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary user | United States Air Force (intended) |
| Number built | 3 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | June 1993 |
| Developed from | C-135 Stratolifter |
The OC-135B Open Skies is a United States Air Force observation aircraft that supports the Treaty on Open Skies.[1] The aircraft, a modified WC-135B, flies unarmed observation flights over participating parties of the treaty. Three OC-135B aircraft were modified by the Aeronautical Systems Center's 4950th Test Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio but only two were ever used. The first operationally-capable OC-135B was assigned to the 24th Reconnaissance Squadron at Offutt AFB in October 1993. It is now fitted with a basic set of navigational and sensor equipment, and was placed in inviolate storage at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base near Tucson, Arizona in 1997. Two fully operational OC-135B aircraft were delivered in 1996 with the full complement of treaty-allowed sensors, which includes an infrared line scanner, synthetic aperture radar and video scanning sensors.
In May 2020, the Trump administration said it would exit the treaty and gave the required six-month notice.[2] In November, it announced plans to liquidate the two 60-year-old jets, offering them to other countries.[3][4]
- ^ "OC-135B Open Skies". www.af.mil. US Air Force. February 1, 2001. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
- ^ "US Officially Withdraws from Open Skies Agreement | Voice of America - English". www.voanews.com. November 22, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
- ^ "The US is Out of the Open Skies Treaty. What's Next?". Air Force Magazine. November 23, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
- ^ Gordon, Michael R. (November 22, 2020). "Trump Exits Open Skies Treaty, Moves to Discard Observation Planes". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
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