Editing Boeing C-32 (section)

== C-32B Gatekeeper ==
[[File:Boeing C-32B (757-23A), USA - Air Force AN0461772.jpg|thumb|left|A C-32B with [[airstair]] deployed]]
===Role===
The 45-seat C-32B Gatekeeper<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2014|title=Air National Guard 2014 Weapons System Modernization Priorities|url=https://www.nationalguard.mil/Leadership/Joint-Staff/Personal-Staff/Legislative-Liaison/Important-Documents/FileId/60892/ |website=[[United States Air National Guard]]|page=ii}}</ref> provides airlift to the U.S. government's Gate Keeper (GK) mission, a [[special access program]] which provides clandestine support to foreign states through State Department [[Foreign Emergency Support Team]] missions and classified special operations and intelligence missions.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 8, 2020|title=Air National Guard Military Vacancy Announcement|url=https://www.ang.af.mil/Portals/77/documents/careers/Officer-MVAs/2020-083%20Gate%20Keeper%20Air%20Operations%20%20Requirements%20Officer%20Maj%20AFSOC.pdf?ver=2020-04-08-225852-533|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720152641/https://www.ang.af.mil/Portals/77/documents/careers/Officer-MVAs/2020-083%20Gate%20Keeper%20Air%20Operations%20%20Requirements%20Officer%20Maj%20AFSOC.pdf?ver=2020-04-08-225852-533|archive-date=July 20, 2021|website=[[United States Air National Guard]]}}</ref><ref name="b622">{{Cite book |last=Birtles |first=Philip |title=Airliner Color History: Boeing 757 |publisher=[[Zenith Press]] |date=June 1, 2001 |isbn=978-0760311233 |language=En |page=62}}</ref><ref name="C32B2">{{cite web|title=Boeing C-32B - USAF Special Operations|url=http://www.americanspecialops.com/usaf-special-operations/aircraft/boeing-c-32b/|access-date=19 March 2021|website=www.americanspecialops.com}}</ref> The aircraft are operated by two different units, the [[New Jersey Air National Guard|New Jersey]] Air National Guard's [[150th Special Operations Squadron]] at [[Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst|Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst]], New Jersey, and the [[486th Flight Test Squadron]] at [[Eglin Air Force Base]], Florida.<ref>{{Cite web|title=COL. JOHN M. COSGROVE|url=https://www.108thwing.ang.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/1426149/col-john-m-cosgrove/|access-date=2021-07-20|website=[[United States Air National Guard]]|language=en-US|archive-date=July 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720155508/https://www.108thwing.ang.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/1426149/col-john-m-cosgrove/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=United States General Accounting Office |title=Combating terrorism interagency framework and agency programs to address the overseas threat. |date=2003 |publisher=DIANE Publishing |isbn=978-1-4289-3944-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fxK_V93uXakC&pg=PA197 |page=197 |language=en}}</ref> The C-32Bs operate at the direction of the Commander of [[United States Special Operations Command|U.S. Special Operations Command]], though when serving a civilian agency, approval for the use of the aircraft is on the recommendation of the committee of [[United States Deputy Secretary of Defense|Deputy Secretaries of Defense]] with the consent of the [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]].{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} The development of the two aircraft emerged from the 2001 Air Force budget, where they were procured for $144.963 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=144963000|start_year=2001}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) to fill an Air Force request for transportation capabilities for the [[Foreign Emergency Support Team|Foreign]] and [[Domestic Emergency Support Team|Domestic]] Emergency Support Teams.<ref name=":2" /> The Gate Keeper mission predates the aircraft, which are successors to previous fleets based on other models of aircraft. The planes have been spotted throughout the world, including such locations as [[Area 51]] and the [[Tonopah Test Range]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Rogoway|first=Tyler|date=October 9, 2020|title=Secretive Tonopah Test Range Airport Had A Mysteriously Busy Week In September|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/36968/secretive-tonopah-test-range-airport-had-a-mysteriously-busy-week-in-september |access-date=2020-10-25|website=The Drive}}</ref> The C-32B became known during the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|George W. Bush administration]] for unsubstantiated theories which circulated that they were connected to the CIA's [[extraordinary rendition]] flights, giving them the onetime nickname “torture taxi.”<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rogoway|first=Tyler|date=May 19, 2011|title=Have you ever seen a 757 air to air refuel? YOU HAVE NOW!|url=http://aviationintel.com/have-you-ever-seen-a-757-air-to-air-refuel-you-have-now/|access-date=2021-07-16|website=Aviation Intel|language=en-US|archive-date=July 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717000842/http://aviationintel.com/have-you-ever-seen-a-757-air-to-air-refuel-you-have-now/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Equipment and capabilities ===
[[File:C32-B_air_to_air_UARRSI.jpg|thumb|A C-32B during [[aerial refueling]], viewed from a [[McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender|KC-10]]]]

The C-32Bs serve as on-call global transport. They differ significantly from their VIP-carrying counterparts, outfitted with advanced communications and designed for ultra long-range capability. Most cargo must be stored in the rear of the aircraft as enlarged fuel tanks replace much of the below-deck cargo hold, extending the aircraft's unrefueled maximum range to {{convert|6000|nmi|mi km|lk=on|abbr=on}}.<ref name=":02" /> The craft also have an [[aerial refueling]] capability via an unmarked, unilluminated conformal Universal Aerial Refueling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI) located atop the [[fuselage]], {{Convert|9|ft|m}} behind the cockpit windows, allowing the planes to remain airborne nearly indefinitely.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 2008|title=Aerial Refueling - Fixed Wing Receivers - PART 5, ANNEX Z: National Annex - United States of America|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/8161b63e_1143_ec82_2e937cbe224e97af.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081107032221/http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/8161b63e_1143_ec82_2e937cbe224e97af.pdf|archive-date=November 7, 2008|website=[[British Royal Air Force]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 27, 2008|title=Foreign Emergency Support Team (FEST) Boeing C-32B (757-23A) at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ|url=https://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/foreign-emergency-support-team-fest-boeing-c-32b-757-23a/view/google/ |access-date=2020-10-25|website=Virtual Globetrotting|language=en}}</ref> The aircraft are also fitted with an [[airstair]] allowing passengers to deplane without access to a [[jet bridge]] or [[Ground support equipment|stair truck]], a heavy and uncommon modification in modern commercial aviation.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jacobson|first=James A.|author-link=James A. Jacobson|date=July 27, 2020|title=Air Force Manual 11-2C-32B Volume 2|url=https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a3/publication/afman11-2c-32bv2/afman11-2c-32bv2.pdf# |website=[[United States Air Force]]|pages=41–42}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Boeing 757 Integral Airstairs - Airliners.net|url=https://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=749305|access-date=2021-06-05|website=www.airliners.net}}</ref> For additional support in austere environments, the aircraft are also fitted with a winch-based baggage loading system, designed to load baggage at airfields that do not have adequate material handling equipment available.<ref name=":9">{{Cite book|last=Kelly|first=Mark D.|url=https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a3/publication/afman11-2c-32bv3/afman11-2c-32bv3.pdf|title=Air Force Manual 11-2C-32B|publisher=[[United States Air Force]]|year=2020|pages=85|author-link=Mark D. Kelly}}</ref>

In 2014, the C-32Bs received audio and visual equipment upgrades, in addition to installation of upgraded satellite communications systems and secure Ku bandwidth communications management systems to replace commercial-grade [[Inmarsat]] installations, in use since 2002.<ref name=":1" /> Around the same time, the craft acquired an additional protruding fairing on the roof of the rear of the craft.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Foreign Emergency Support Team (FEST)|url=https://www.state.gov/foreign-emergency-support-team/|access-date=2021-06-11|website=United States Department of State|language=en}}</ref> Similar modifications have appeared on the C-32As, the presidential [[Boeing VC-25|VC-25As]], the [[Boeing E-4|E-4B]] and [[Boeing E-6 Mercury|E-6]] “doomsday planes”, and the [[Battlefield Airborne Communications Node|E-11A BACN]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Rogoway|first=Tyler|date=May 22, 2017|title="Air Force One" Jet Reemerges With Upgraded Communications For World Trip|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/10470/air-force-one-jet-reemerges-with-upgraded-communications-for-world-trip |access-date=2021-06-11|website=The Drive|language=en}}</ref> The protrusion reportedly houses [[Northrop Grumman]]’s Multi-Role Tactical Common Data Link (MR-TCDL), a [[Ka band|Ka]] and [[Ku band|Ku]] band telecommunications suite designed for war zones but which has proved to be just as relevant over a disaster zone as a battlefield.<ref name=":0" /> The system functions as a flying wireless router and server, providing communications where traditional communications infrastructure is unavailable.<ref name=":0" /> Budget requests show that around 2016 the cockpit avionics were upgraded to include [[Head-up display|head up displays]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|date=2016|title=Weapons Systems Modernization Priorities 2016|url=https://www.ang.af.mil/Portals/77/documents/ang_priorities_books/AFD-160404-028.pdf |website=[[United States Air National Guard]]}}</ref> Depot level maintenance on the C-32B is performed by [[Big Safari]] (the 645th Aeronautical Systems Squadron).<ref name="Big Safari">{{Cite book|last=Kelly|first=Mark D.|url=https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a3/publication/afman11-2c-32bv3/afman11-2c-32bv3.pdf|title=Air Force Manual 11-2C-32B|publisher=[[United States Air Force]]|year=2020|pages=17|author-link=Mark D. Kelly}}</ref>

According to Air Force Manual 11-2C-32B (2020), at least two members of the C-32B aircrew are always armed.<ref name=":9" />

===Airframes===
[[File:FEST board C-32 for Beirut.webp|thumb|The [[Foreign Emergency Support Team]] boarding a C-32B to respond to the [[2020 Beirut explosion]]]]

There are two C-32B aircraft as of 2021: 00-9001 and 02-4452.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021|title=Air National Guard Priorities Mod Book 2021|url=https://www.ang.af.mil/Portals/77/documents/ang_priorities_books/2021%20Mod%20Book.pdf?ver=gl9iF62lvZpJEDJH5NIhlA%3d%3d |website=[[United States Air National Guard]]|page=66}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Air Force|first=U.S.|date=February 1, 2000|title=USAF Committee Staff Procurement Backup Book FY 2001 Amended Budget Request|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/budget/fy2001/usaf/acprocvol1.pdf |website=Global Security}}</ref> At times the [[Air National Guard]] has appeared to deny the existence of one of the two aircraft. The 2012 edition of the National Guard's Weapons System Modernization Priorities report states "the 150th Special Operations Squadron of the New Jersey Air National Guard operates the C-32B from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ and is the ''only'' U.S Air Force C-32B", while all prior and successive editions describe a need to support upgrades to two aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012|title=FY 2012 Budget Justification: Volume One, Operation and Maintainence|url=https://comptroller.defense.gov/defbudget/fy2012/budget_justification/pdfs/01_Operation_and_Maintenance/O_M_VOL_1_PARTS/O_M_VOL_1_BASE_PARTS/SOCOM_OP-5 |website=Comptroller of the U.S. Department of Defense}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Both planes are painted gloss white, and lack any recognizable external markings other than serial numbers, although they have been spotted with "United States Air Force" emblazoned on the [[cheatline]] and the Air Force [[roundel]] on the tail section of the [[fuselage]] at times,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ferro|first=Daniel|date=January 1, 2020|title=C32B Rota Spain|url=https://twitter.com/gibdan1/status/1212474385426272256 |access-date=2020-10-26|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref> and solely a small American flag on the same area of the rear fuselage at other times.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|last=Fisherbray|date=February 10, 2015|title=Boeing C32B|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/fisherbray/16504024556 }}</ref> There are only two identified visual differences between the two aircraft: one has larger emergency ramp openings under the doorsills, and one has the rearward window removed from the forward bank of windows on the starboard side.<ref>{{Citation|last=dcspotter|title=02-5001 - Spot the difference vs the next photo|date=2018-09-30|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/dcspotter/43199284150/|access-date=2021-11-25}}</ref> Both planes are known for adopting a range of different [[N-number|serial numbers]] on a regular basis to confuse their activities and identities. Numbers appearing on the aircraft in the past have included: 00-9001,<ref>{{Cite web|last=De Jong|first=Peter|date=August 24, 2016|title=Aircraft Photo of 00-9001 / 09001|url=https://www.airhistory.net/photo/35589/00-9001/09001 |access-date=2021-06-21|website=AirHistory.net|language=en}}</ref> 98-6006,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lofting|first=Chris|date=August 26, 2017|title=Aircraft Photo of 98-6006 / 86006|url=https://www.airhistory.net/photo/310831/98-6006/86006 |access-date=2021-06-21|website=AirHistory.net|language=en}}</ref> 99-6143,<ref>{{Citation|last=CanAmJetz|title=99-6143 Boeing C-32B 25491 EHAM|date=2019-05-03|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/146108410@N07/32840632657/|access-date=2021-06-21}}</ref> 02-5001,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Plomitzer|first=Gerhard|date=November 10, 2018|title=Aircraft Photo of 02-5001 / 25001|url=https://www.airhistory.net/photo/255744/02-5001/25001 |access-date=2021-06-21|website=AirHistory.net|language=en}}</ref> and 02-4452.<ref>{{Cite web|last=De Jong|first=Peter|date=June 3, 2005|title=Aircraft Photo of 02-4452 / 24452|url=https://www.airhistory.net/photo/121911/02-4452/24452 |access-date=2021-06-21|website=AirHistory.net|language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Boeing C-32B, United States - US Air Force (USAF) JP6248406.jpg|left|thumb|C-32B on the tarmac]]
The true identity of the older of the two aircraft is MSN 25493/523 (02-4452), originally delivered to [[Ansett Worldwide]] as N59AW on 26 February 1993, it saw service with [[ATA Airlines|ATA airlines]] as 84WA before shuffling through private brokers, and ultimately being sold to the Air Force by Kodiak Associates LLC in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|title=Registration Details For N84WA (Kodiak Associates LLC) 757-23A|url=http://www.planelogger.com/Aircraft/Registration/N84WA/531037?seo=757-23A_Kodiak%20Associates%20LLC|website=PlaneLogger}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=US Air Force 02-4452 (Boeing 757 - MSN 25493) (Ex N312SF N512AT N59AW N757AV N84WA ) {{!}} Airfleets aviation|url=https://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b757-25493.htm|access-date=2021-06-21|website=www.airfleets.net}}</ref> The later aircraft is MSN 25494/611 (00-9001), delivered to [[Avianca]] as N987AN on April 22, 1994,<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Air Force 00-9001 (Boeing 757 - MSN 25494) (Ex N987AN ) {{!}} Airfleets aviation|url=https://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b757-25494.htm|access-date=2021-06-21|website=www.airfleets.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Plomitzer|first=Gerhard|date=June 30, 2020|title=02-5001 {{!}} Boeing C-32B|url=https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/9769328 |access-date=2021-06-21|website=JetPhotos|language=en}}</ref> it passed through the hands of [[Raytheon]] [[E-Systems]] before Air Force purchase in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|title=Registration Details For N987AN (Avianca) 757-23A|url=http://www.planelogger.com/Aircraft/Registration/N987AN/531039?seo=757-23A_Avianca|website=PlaneLogger}}</ref> Both aircraft are powered by [[Rolls-Royce RB211]] engines, rather than the Pratt & Whitney PW2000 used on the C-32A.
Sparsely marked secretive white 757s often conflated with the C-32B include [[Comco|N226G and N610G]], a pair of 757s operated by  [[L3Harris Technologies|L3Harris]] subsidiary L-3 Capital.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-01-12|title=N610G COMCO|url=https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/n610g-comco/873/17|access-date=2021-11-25|website=FlightAware Discussions|language=en}}</ref> The aircraft have been observed operating with various tail numbers, and previously featured the text "COMCO" in prominent black lettering on the tail, later replaced by a conservative blue swoosh design.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What Is Comco? - Airliners.net|url=https://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=369809|access-date=2021-07-17|website=www.airliners.net}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Citation|last=Jim|title=N226G|date=2017-10-20|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/154446353@N02/38075341851/|access-date=2021-11-25}}</ref> The near identical equipment of the so-called [[Comco|COMCO]] aircraft, including airstair,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Aviation Photo #1011900: Boeing 757-23A - Comco|url=https://www.airliners.net/photo/Comco/Boeing-757-23A/1011900|access-date=2021-11-25|website=Airliners.net}}</ref> Rolls-Royce engines,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Noordenne|first=Marcel van|title=25491 – MvN's Boeing 757 Website|date=May 17, 2015 |url=https://www.b757.info/25491/|access-date=2021-11-25|language=en-US}}</ref> roof communications fairing,<ref name=":8" /> and an unexplained rectangular modification applied to the fuselage of both aircraft<ref>{{Citation|last=planephotoman|title=What's This?|date=2008-06-16|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/planephotoman/2585885652/|access-date=2021-11-25}}</ref> have fueled rumors that they are in fact C-32Bs with hasty paint or decals applied, however such claims have never been substantiated.<ref>{{Cite web|title=USAF C32B/B757-200 96143 - FighterControl|url=https://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=136002|access-date=2021-11-25|website=www.fightercontrol.co.uk}}</ref> Other similar aircraft include N119NA and N874TW, a pair of 757s based at [[Richmond International Airport]], acquired by the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]] in 2015 displaying an American flag on their tail and are distinguished from the C-32B by their winglets.