(DefesaNET) A Boeing WC-135 Constant Phoenix aircraft of the United States Air Force (USAF) flew on Monday (16JAN2023), overflying the Brazilian coast from the North of the country, passing through the entire Northeast and reaching Rio de Janeiro .
The equipment collects and surveys atmospheric particles, gases and debris to detect nuclear activities in accessible regions of the atmosphere in support of the 1963 Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
What is the purpose?
The aircraft is a modified C-135B or EC-135C Platform. The Constant Phoenix modifications are primarily related to its on-board atmospheric collection suite, which allows the mission crew to detect radioactive “clouds” in real time. The aircraft is equipped with external flow devices to collect particulates on filter paper and a compressor system for air samples collected on holding spheres.
Research or errand?
The flight profile from leaving the airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, followed the coast from Venezuela to the height of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This flight comes after Maduro spoke of Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia) uniting with Russia and China, with the latter’s leadership.
Interesting the flight to the height of Rio de Janeiro, with the nuclear reactors Angra I and II. With the election of Gustavo Petro, in Colombia, and more leftist governments in Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru, the Americans have diminished intelligence flight alternatives in South America.
Conflict with Brazilian flight controllers
It is reported that the American crew of WC-135 (MILLR36), which was accompanied by a KC-10 In-flight Refueling (REVO) aircraft, ignored several attempts to contact the Flight Controllers of the CINDACTA System.
Worrisome, that on every route FAB “has no interception capability”. Without aircraft at Natal Air Base, Fortaleza only in Rio de Janeiro at Santa Cruz Air Base (BASC), with the F5EM/F5FM of the 1st Fighter Aviation Group. The other Naval Patrol aircraft such as the P-3AM are mostly under maintenance.
*** Translated by the DEFCONPress FYI team ***