A Kennedy-era RC-135 Rivet Joint electronic surveillance aircraft surpassed 50,000 flight hours during a mission March 12 in Southwest Asia supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The aircraft, which has been in service since 1962 and flown tours in far-flung places ranging from Vietnam to Afghanistan and Iraq, is the first Rivet Joint and the first of any C-135 airframe, in general, to reach this milestone. “The folks that fly, operate and maintain the Rivet Joint are quiet, professional warriors who are making a difference every day,” said Brig. Gen. Charles Lyon, commander of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. “We’ve had many successes in the war on terrorism, many of which aren’t publicized.” (USAF report by 2nd Lt. Tania Bryan)
In the face of Chinese war plans to disrupt U.S. command-and-control networks in the event of a conflict, the Air Force needs to focus less on its “connect everything” efforts and prepare its combat aviators to fight without a constant connection to higher-ups, according to a new report from AFA’s…
