US nuclear sniffer plane deployed amid Iran-Israel conflict? Here's what we know

Late Monday, the U.S. WC-135R nuclear sniffer plane took off from Offutt Air Force Base.

Late Monday night, the U.S. nuclear “sniffer” plane WC-135R ‘Constant Phoenix’ aircraft departed from Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, the home of U.S. Strategic Command.

(Image for representation) The WC-135R nuclear sniffer aircraft left Offutt Air Force Base to monitor for nuclear fallout. Its unusual flight patterns coincide with reports of Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities and Tehran's threats of retaliation, although some claim it was just a training flight.(Pixaby)

What is a ‘Nuke Sniffer’?

Known informally as the “nuclear sniffer,” the WC-135R is one of only three planes of its kind in existence. It’s built for a very specific mission: to detect airborne radioactive particles and signs of nuclear fallout in real time. 

The WC fleet, which is operated and maintained by the 55th Wing with the 45th Reconnaissance Squadron as the primary agent, is an atmospheric collection force, along with Air Force Technical Applications Centre (AFTAC) with the 21st Surveillance Squadron, Detachment 1. 

The Constant Phoenix is also prepared to take gaseous debris samples in the atmosphere to monitor radioactivity, thus contributing to the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963. In this treaty, testing of nuclear weapons above the grounds is prohibited. The WC-135 is called Nuke Sniffer due to this special purpose.

Air Force Times reported that the plane has been flying unusual patterns over the northern United States. While the Pentagon has not issued an official statement, its appearance follows unconfirmed reports that Israeli airstrikes may have hit Iranian nuclear facilities. 

HT.com has not independently verified the authenticity of this information.

On top of that, Tehran has issued strong warnings about potential retaliation.

However, Brandon Holley, a Wireless Infrastructure Engineer, clarifed in an X thread, “That was a training flight and its flight pattern aligns with flying over USSTRATCOM bases and some of our silo fields.”

 

“First of all, you would never know that because you don’t have the right transponder to catch their frequency. Military transponder are top-secret,” another X user tried to clarify.

Notably, last year, US Air Force Central at the DVIDS network published pictures of their WC-135R 64-14831 being recently dispatched to the Middle East, supposedly to participate in atmospheric testing.

ADS-B exposed the Constant Phoenix platform's presence in the region since the aircraft was executing its activities in Al Udeid, Qatar, and Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean.