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)
Army Building Up New Space Operations Branch
Oct. 15, 2026
The Army has long been dependent on space capabilities to navigate terrain, communicate in hard-to-reach areas, and identify and strike targets. Now, the service wants to deepen its space operations expertise and is making plans to expand its own cadre of operators in the coming years.