Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Other / Unknown
Conflict Airborne Conflict
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Aircraft; Procedure
I was the pilot not flying on a flight to BOS. Autopilot was engaged; we were level at FL270 and on our filed flight path with Washington Center. ATC called traffic above us and to our 1 to 2 o'clock; a military tanker. Shortly after the ATC call we received a TCAS RA to climb. There was no TCAS TA initially. The RA was indicating to our 1 o'clock and -1;400 and climbing. The Captain immediately disconnected the autopilot and climbed the aircraft. We were clear of the conflict at FL280 and the Captain leveled the aircraft. As soon as the frequency was clear; I advised ATC of our TCAS RA and our resulting climb. ATC then advised us of two F-15's climbing below us to FL260. We figured the F-15's were the trigger for our RA. We returned to FL270 and shortly after ATC cleared us to continue our climb towards our final altitude. I talked to both flight attendants and was assured all crew and passengers were OK in the cabin. We continued to BOS with no further events. It seems the F-15's were performing a rapid climb to FL260; especially since we never received a TA only a RA. I don't see any logical reason to allow this type of climb by the F-15's to an altitude so close to ours and within an airspace containing us as well as several other airliners and aircraft.
Air Carrier level at FL270 responded to a TCAS RA reportedly initiated by a flight of fast climbing military jets.