USAF RC-135V Begins New Mission Over the Black Sea

A new mission is about to begin over the Black Sea for a USAF Boeing RC-135V (reg. 64-14844 – c/s JAKE17). The aircraft started its flight by taking off from RAF Mildenhall and is now heading east over the western Black Sea.

Before entering the core of its mission, the Rivet Joint carried out an aerial refueling over eastern Romania, thanks to a USAF Boeing KC-135R (reg. 57-1486 – c/s NACHO21) that took off from Poland.

It is unclear whether the RC-135V is escorted, but the Stratotanker’s flight patterns suggest that it may have also refueled fighter jets. However, it is unknown whether these fighters are connected to this mission.