⚠️ CONFIRMED ⚠️
(Using independent #ADSBexchange flight data.)

🇺🇸 United States Air Force Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint 62-4134/OF| #AE01CE| #RAINY51 took off from #KadenaAB #RODN @ 2020-09-07 23:28Z

https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=ae01ce&lat=27.823&lon=124.673&zoom=5.5&showTrace=2020-09-07 https://twitter.com/SCS_PI/status/1303244320938455040
🇺🇸 United States Air Force Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint 62-4134/OF| #AE01CE stopped transmitting its location using ADS-B ~23:43Z, and seems to have resumed transmissions using ICAO hex 750548| #PCFPW9Z ~0025Z on 2020-09-08Z; a spoofed Malaysian-assigned ICAO hex, and bogus callsign.
"But they were in international airspace!"

Yes, that's an American reconnaissance plane, spoofing a Malaysian aircraft transponder code (to confuse Chinese air defences?) flying with a bogus call sign, in indisputably Chinese-controlled airspace, completely legally. Yup. 👍
h/t to #RadarBox24 who also show on their sensor network what seems to be the same American RC-135, operating in international Chinese-controlled airspace, using an ICAO hex code assigned to Malaysia, and flying with a bogus callsign, completely legally.

#USAF
...and FlightAware takes it away with the best sensor data of the entire flight, almost right from take-off.

Kinda conclusive, no?

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/PCFPW9Z
I maintain that Japan has some of the best plane spotters
♥️🇯🇵

Here is 62-4134 September 7 2020 prior to launch. https://twitter.com/Clipper072/status/1302931649496186883?s=20
Same, 62-4134 September 7 2020 - great day for photos! https://twitter.com/Tahiti_iaorana/status/1302974313562140673?s=20
Interestingly, Russian sources don't usually publish ICAO hex numbers from #USAF transponders when they intercept RC-135s over the Black Sea, Baltic, or anywhere. @SCS_PI is the first think tank I've seen that publishes all the data we need to fact-check the story; 非常感谢你!
*I should have said OFFICIAL Russian sources don't post the ICAO hex numbers; http://PlaneRadar.ru  < @ua4wiy_> does a good job posting a lot of aircraft info from the Black Sea (and more) https://twitter.com/ua4wiy_/status/1303592667012620288?s=20
You can follow @steffanwatkins.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled:

By continuing to use the site, you are consenting to the use of cookies as explained in our Cookie Policy to improve your experience.