The RC-135S Cobra Ball flies Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed ... The current RC-135S aircraft trace their lineage to C-135 aircraft originally modified in 1961 and operated in 24-hour alert status ...

2025 U.S. Indo-Pacific – A pair of Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs successfully conducted aerial refueling with a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker on February 11, 2025 ...