The RC-135V/W Rivet Joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance fleet recently surpassed three years continuous Pacific deployment at Kadena AB, Japan, officials announced. Given both China and Russia’s increasing antagonistic activities in the region “the operations tempo and demand for ISR … has increased dramatically over the past three years,” 82nd Reconnaissance Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Beau Nicewanner, said in a Nov. 9 release. The 82nd RS, deployed from Offutt AFB, Neb., has logged some 400 sorties, totaling 3,400 flying hours over the course of 19 deployment rotations. Specialized RC-135U Combat Sent, WC-135W Constant Phoenix, and RC-135S Cobra Ball from Offutt added more than 300 additional sorties totaling more than 2,600 flight hours over the past two years alone, according to the release. “On any given day, we are flying missions in the Pacific, covering the map from India to Alaska. These missions support our nation’s nuclear interests, ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, and support counterterrorism efforts,” added Nicewanner. The 82nd RS and systems operators, analysts, and technicians of the 390th Intelligence Squadron marked the milestone on Sept. 26.
NASA Boss: Race to Moon Has National Security Stakes
Sept. 15, 2026
NASA is pushing hard to get astronauts back to the moon by 2028—and the urgency is driven in no small part by the national security implications of doing so before China does, Administrator Jared Isaacman said Sept. 15.
