| Boeing EC-135 | |
|---|---|
,_USA_-_Air_Force_AN1155085.jpg) Boeing EC-135C Looking Glass with Pacer Link modification | |
| General information | |
| Type | Airborne Command Post, Airborne Launch Control Center, Tracking and Telemetry Platform, Airborne Radio Relay |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| Status | Retired from service |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1965 |
| Retired | 2000 |
| Developed from | C-135 Stratolifter |
The Boeing EC-135 is a retired family of command and control aircraft derived from the Boeing C-135 Stratolifter. During the Cold War, the EC-135 was best known for being modified to perform the Looking Glass mission where one EC-135 was always airborne 24 hours a day to serve as flying command post for the Strategic Air Command in the event of nuclear war. Various other EC-135 aircraft sat on airborne and ground alert throughout the Cold War, with the last EC-135C being retired in 1998. The EC-135N variant served as the tracking aircraft for the Apollo program.
The Boeing E-6B Mercury "TACAMO" replaced the EC-135C.