An American aircraft designed to ‘sniff’ radioactivity associated with the use of nuclear weapons has arrived in the United Kingdom.

The aircraft landed at RAF Mildenhall this morning and is a rare visitor to the United Kingdom.

Previously, air sampling missions were routinely conducted over the Far East, Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, Mediterranean Sea, the Polar regions, and off the coasts of South America and Africa. The aircraft doesn’t usually stay in a region for too long before heading back to the United States. As said above, this is a rare deployment and the last visit of such an aircraft to the UK was August last year.

More notably, back in 2017 an aircraft was deployed to RAF Mildenhall to conduct missions over Europe after air quality stations across the continent detected traces of radioactive Iodine-131.

Historically, the WC-135W fleet played a major role in tracking radioactive debris from the Soviet Union’s Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster.

What is the WC-135W?

The WC-135 ‘Constant Phoenix’ is U.S. Air Force a special-purpose aircraft derived from the Boeing C-135 Stratolifter (as also with the RC-135 ‘Rivet Joint’ signals intelligence aircraft used by the Royal Air Force).

According to the U.S. Air Force, its mission is to collect samples from the atmosphere for the purpose of detecting and identifying nuclear explosions.

According to military.com here, the Constant Phoenix has an on-board atmospheric collection suite, which allows the mission crew to detect radioactive “clouds” in real time. The aircraft is equipped with external flow-through devices to collect particulates on filter paper and a compressor system for whole air samples collected in holding spheres.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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49 COMMENTS

    • Sensible and at the same time terrifying.

      As others have said it may be to do with the Ukrainian power plants.

      Or it may be to do with a false flag suitcase device – like to see the guy who could pick it up – hint: only olympic weightlifters need to apply. But could certainly put it in a car boot.

      I don’t think Putin cares about world opinion. But he will want to make sure that he saves his own neck for his retirement.

      I shudder to think how useless NATO has been given the warning signs from Crimea and from China.

      I think UK has woken up to this and that there may have to be another defence capital increase to fund bringing some extra defensive as well as offensive kit into service rapidly. They good side of this is that as far as RN is concerned most of the kit exists and it “just needs a budget line” – to paraphrase Radakin. in his previous job as 1SL.

        • It is a fair bit more than that for a nuclear explosion as opposed to a dirty device.

          If you want a Goldfinger style cobalt iodine mess than 53kg might do it with no shielding.

  2. Hi folks hope all is well.
    Interesting, I suppose this is in preparation that small tactical nuclear devices are used in the current situation with Ukraine.
    What do you think.
    Cheers,
    George

    • Hi George,

      Like Daniele that was my first thought as well.

      It’s quite chilling really. Like many on here I grew up under the shadow of the mushroom cloud and, I like many, had hoped that the risks of nuclear war had receded, if not entirely disappeared, for good.

      The last 10 years have put that idea to rest, sadly, and Putin’s actions in and around Ukraine are rapidly taking us back to the 1970’s early 80’s.

      I lived in South Bucks back then and remember sitting outside the Apprentice training centre looking at the hill opposite wondering if the nukes were already on their way. RAF Strike Command was in that general direction and RAF Daws Hill in High Wycomble, reputedly the HQ for US cruise missiles, was not far away either.

      All very chilling and I so hope we don’t go back there, but I fear it is going to be a forlorn hope.

      Hmm, all very depressing.

      Cheers CR

    • Or, given that Chernobyl is on the border of Belarus north of Kyiv, they may worry the fighting might disturb the fuel remaining in reactor 4.

      Although apparently the remaining fuel started to ‘smoulder’ last year, so it’s possible this is unrelated to the crisis.

    • The use of the WC 135 is to detect what the contents of any nuclear release is containing, such as Strontium, Cobalt etc. DSP satellites will instantly determine any nuclear bursts.

    • More likely to detect any Chernobyl dust thrown up by any conflict in the area north of Kiev near the border with Belorus.

  3. Doesnt just detect the fallout from nuclear explosions, also identifies the trace emission from nuclear reactors and enrichment plants allowing you to identify hidden undeclared nuclear weapons facilities. After a nuclear explosion there are identifiable isotope signatures that tell you where the raw material was mined and who processed it into a weapon.

  4. With the increased threats, will UK defence receive additional funding such for the reversal of troop cuts, increase the availability of combat aircraft and ships?

      • And the fact that far fewer young people want to join the forces these days. I’m from an army family, I served as did my father, uncles , grandfathers etc. But we would not let our children join up in any of the services.

          • Try telling a Milllenial what to do is the answer, they all have degrees in wasting time at university now, rather than Art College.

          • I can’t answer for Bill, but I’d feel the same way. Every time the government fires a load of servicemen due to cuts, they are telling prospective employees their job security is a joke and HMG doesn’t value people they expect to risk their lives for their country.

            I’ve never served, but I value those who have far more than I value HMG.

          • Nailed it in one, the state treats the military as disposable pawns, and the military covenant is worthless. I have hear that from veterans, serrving soldiers / marines and their families.

          • Among many things discussed by our veterans group like the defence cuts from 1990 onwards, to the total and utter betrayal of veterans who are still being persecuted for their military service over 50 years ago right up to the A/stan conflict. To the letters to wanted IRA members letting escape justice, to engaging in illegal wars in Iraq. Even issues like the changes to regimental structure, non stop defence cuts and countless other issues. And some of the younger parents are not at all impressed with the wokery and political correctness being implimented. My own personal gripe is the persecution of Ulster veterans whilst the appeasement of the extremists.

    • You Are aware the proposed troop cuts are on Paper, as the numbers are currently not where they should be, Army is not seen as a attractive Service option

  6. I don’t think we need to be worried about WW3. There are 4 nuclear powerplants in Ukraine. It seems sensible to be prepared in case one or more take collateral damage in the event of war

    • They look like TF33 engines, which are closely based on the JT3D, which has been out of production since 1985. Same engines as on B52 bombers — but those engines are now contracted to be replaced by the Rolls Royce F130, based on their BR700 long-range business jet engine.

    • They are probably the TF33 engines. Same as on the b-52h and some similar C-135 type aircraft. Most if not all KC-135 have newer engines now. CF-56 I think but my memory could be playing tricks on me.
      They could also be to sniff Russia’s nuclear powered missile testing up north. Again I forget the name of it. Or practice deployment etc. These aircraft don’t often stay for long in one place

  8. It’s a little known fact that 3 of our K3 VC10s could be kitted out for the same missions. What has replaced them in this roll I haven’t a clue.
    The WC135 W are being replaced I hear by 3 KC135S pulled from the bone yard.

    • So little known that the whole project was undoubtedly cancelled before the first VC-10 K3 was even decommissioned. Probably the Americans informed the MoD that such development was already at an advanced stage by them and therefore a UK project was not required.

      • It existed, I flew missions on the K3 ,the last out of Kadina airbase when North Korea let one off in 2006.
        They were known as secondary roll atmospheric sampling, very British but nuke sniffers in American parlance.

        • Thanks. I was not aware of the fact. No doubt, when the VC-10s were taken out of service it was decided there was no further requirement for secondary atmospheric sampling. Otherwise, there would have been a plan to similarly equip a Voyager

  9. Slightly off topic, but this article I read the other week aligns itself with the subject of surveillance on the other side of the world: (Note, the scans will self-delete after a week) 

  11. Global Backgrounds. Enriching uranium creates elevated levels of gases like radon. That aircraft can detect that, and therefore determine who is trying to create weapons grade uranium. So whenever Iran denies it, we can reasonably call BS.

  12. Why would Russia start lobbing tac nukes ( close to its own territory) and why would NATO use nuke retaliation unless one of their states ( ie not Ukraine) had been nuked?? We just to stay calm and focus on our breathing 😂.

  14. Cool to see the old aircraft that I used to work on when I was in the military back in 1986. Spent many hours as a jet engine mechanic on 667.

  15. So by your statement Russian Nukes aren’t enough to start WW3 but NATO retaliating would be??
    The 1st use of nuclear weapons offensively will be the cause of WW3 not a retaliation.

    Also a side point NATO might choose not to retaliate, whilst certain member states decide to let fly, that’s what makes NATOs deterrent less predictable for aggressors to plan for.

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