Two KC-135 Stratotankers sit in front of a hangar at the Roland R Wright ANG Base in Salt Lake City, Utah. Credit: US Air National Guard / Tech Sgt Danny Whitlock / USAF.

The Utah Air National Guard (ANG) and Collins Aerospace have demonstrated integrated technologies and joint connectivity using a KC-135 Stratotanker.

The demonstration was conducted in support of Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) and Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) initiatives.

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According to the US Air Force (USAF), the testing of advanced communication, mission computing and sensor technologies on the aircraft was held during the Utah ANG’s bi-annual Wingman Day.

It showcased a streaming connection between a mobile ground party, an airborne contracted aircraft, and the ‘Aircraft 0275’, which is the first and only Block 45 RTIC modified KC-135.

In July last year, the Utah ANG 151st Air Refueling Wing upgraded the first KC-135 with Nato-Standard Link 16 communication capabilities under its real-time information in the cockpit system (RTIC).

Utah ANG 151st Operations Group commander colonel Douglas Foster said: “This feat was accomplished as part of a cooperative research and development agreement between Collins Aerospace and the Utah Air National Guard and has never been done before using Tactical Targeting Networked Technology with the KC-135.”

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According to the USAF, equipping the KC-135 with situational awareness capability through advanced tactical datalinks is the first step in developing a survivable tanker force.

Foster added: “This accomplishment showed that with minor modifications to the RTIC system, the bounds are almost limitless to what we can do with a 60-year-old aircraft, exemplifying Gen Brown’s ‘Accelerate Change or Lose’ mission statement.”