US out of Open Skies

[slogen51]

US out of Open Skies treaty

https://www.airforcemag.com/the-us-is-o ... hats-next/

Can Russian aircraft for example still overfly RAF Lakenheath for example?

[saint1]

US out of Open Skies treaty

https://www.airforcemag.com/the-us-is-o ... hats-next/

Can Russian aircraft for example still overfly RAF Lakenheath for example?

Yup, entire territory of a member state is open to observation, without limitations so US withdrawal from OS will make no difference here.

[EGVP]

Just means we won't see the OC-135 again

[Vulture 01]

Convert the jets to Rivet Joints?

[The Apprentice]

Convert the jets to Rivet Joints?

At present, there are no plans to make any changes to the current fleet of two OC-135s - there are of course many questions around what should be done with them (given that a re-entry to the treaty is always possible).

https://omaha.com/news/local/govt-and-p ... 70bf3.html

Conversion to RJ would be expensive and unrealistic, even the WC-135Rs are to be conversions from relatively slick KC-135s which have identical avionics & engines akin to the main RC-135 fleet.

[reaperops]

It would appear from the article that equipment and airframes will be made available to Treaty Members should it be requested. If the new Administration chooses to rejoin the program, a balance of the overall cost of upgrading equipment and airframes versus the overall value of being a member of the Treaty will no doubt be reviewed. What Does Open Skies bring to the table?

It is possible that should the US rejoin in the future, it could do this as a part of the 'Pod Group', fitting digital sensors to a C-130J for example, rather than a dedicated airframe.

https://www.airforcemag.com/the-us-is-o ... hats-next/

[CHINOOKER]

As these two aircraft are decades old and would require a lot of modifications to both aircraft and systems etc,would it not be more feasible for the US,(if they did want to rejoin),to use the same model airframes used in production of the P-8 and fit two of those out with the appropriate hardware/software etc? That way, there would be commonality of new airframes ,engines and maintenance and support for them widely available!

[reaperops]

As these two aircraft are decades old and would require a lot of modifications to both aircraft and systems etc,would it not be more feasible for the US,(if they did want to rejoin),to use the same model airframes used in production of the P-8 and fit two of those out with the appropriate hardware/software etc? That way, there would be commonality of new airframes ,engines and maintenance and support for them widely available!

There is no requirement within the Treaty to use dedicated platforms.

Several member nations such as Canada, Italy, Belgium, Greece, France, Netherlands are known as the 'Pod Group'. They use SAMSON (Special Avionics Mission Strap-on-Now) Pod which can be fitted to a common type in the inventory, normally the C-130. This is surely a most cost effective method of participating in the 'Open Spies' program.

[BOLLO]

According to the USAF and the 55WG no official guidence has been received on the future of the 2 frames