Boeing OC-135 & WC-135
USAF 55th Wing
Peter R Foster offers a timely update on the United States Air Force’s 55th Operations Group’s Open Skies and ‘Constant Phoenix’ programmes
When then-US President Donald Trump announced the United States was to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty on May 21, 2020, it was opposed by many – both at home and overseas.
The following day, the United States Air Force (USAF) reported: “On May 22, 2020, the United States provided formal notice of its intent to withdraw from the Treaty on Open Skies. As a result, this announcement is hereby cancelled.” Subsequently, on July 14, the USAF officially rescinded its instructions to overhaul its pair of ageing Boeing OC-135B Open Skies platforms, which ultimately cancelled the programme.
New skies, old jets
The Open Skies Treaty gives its signatory nations the right to conduct unarmed reconnaissance flights over the territories of other member states in the interests of monitoring military activity and controlling the build-up of nuclear arms.
Originally proposed by President Eisenhower as long ago as 1955, it was another 34 years before President George W Bush managed to resurrect the concept. And on March 24, 1992 he had two do…
