{"id":33052,"date":"2018-04-25T14:12:40","date_gmt":"2018-04-25T14:12:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/04\/25\/air-force-to-start-transforming-tankers-into-wc-135-nuke-sniffers-this-year\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:41:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:41:59","slug":"air-force-to-start-transforming-tankers-into-wc-135-nuke-sniffers-this-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/2018\/04\/25\/air-force-to-start-transforming-tankers-into-wc-135-nuke-sniffers-this-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Force to start transforming tankers into WC-135 \u2018nuke sniffers\u2019 in FY19"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The Air Force is set to begin turning the first of three KC-135R tankers into WC-135 Constant Phoenix \u201cnuclear sniffers\u201d in fall 2019, a conversion the service\u2019s top general said Tuesday is necessary given the legacy aircraft\u2019s advanced age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Air Force\u2019s two WC-135s planes are among the most rare and specialized aircraft in the service\u2019s inventory, outfitted with highly classified equipment that allows its crew to monitor the atmosphere for signs of nuclear explosions<\/a>. But the planes date from the mid 1960s and are reaching the end of their lifespans<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe current airplanes are old. They\u2019re wearing out,\u201d Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur mission capable rates, and more importantly our aircraft availability rates to go do this mission, are much lower than not only the secretary of defense but the combatant commander\u2019s requirements for that mission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Air Force\u2019s solution? Take three KC-135R tankers and upgrade them, transforming them into WC-135s \u2014 an effort that increases the total inventory and thus allows \u201cfor better availability to execute time sensitive missions,\u201d Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said in response to emailed questions from Defense News.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, retire the old Constant Phoenix aircraft, which are assigned to 45th Reconnaissance Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service\u2019s plan, which was spelled out for the first time in the fiscal year 2019 budget<\/a>, \u201callows us to give more time to be able to continue to accomplish this mission,\u201d Goldfein said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also can be viewed as part of a larger Defense Department focus on the modernization and expansion of its nuclear capabilities, driven in part by a new Nuclear Posture Review and growing concern about Russian<\/a>, Chinese, Iranian and North Korean weapons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Air Force is requesting $208 million in FY19 for the Constant Phoenix upgrade effort, with an additional $8 million planned in FY20. Its analysis showed \u201cthat it was more cost-effective to convert KC-135R aircraft into WC-135Rs than to modify existing WC-135W aircraft,\u201d budget documents said. <\/p>\n\n\n\t