| HC-130 Hercules | |
|---|---|
| USAF HC-130P Combat King of the 920th Rescue Wing refuels an HH-60G helicopter | |
| Role | CSAR/rescue aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Lockheed Martin |
| First flight | 1959 2002 (USCG HC-130J) 29 July 2010 (USAF HC-130J) |
| Primary users | United States Air Force United States Coast Guard |
| Developed from | C-130 Hercules Lockheed Martin KC-130J Super Hercules |
The Lockheed HC-130 is an extended-range, search and rescue (SAR) and Combat search and rescue (CSAR) version of the C-130 Hercules transport. The HC-130H and HC-130J versions are operated by the United States Coast Guard in a SAR and maritime reconnaissance role. The HC-130P and HC-130N Combat King models are operated by the United States Air Force for long-range SAR and CSAR. The USAF variants are also capable of refueling appropriately equipped helicopters in flight and are also used to extend the range of combat search and rescue helicopters by providing air refueling, airdrop pararescue forces and equipment, and to execute on scene CSAR command and control.
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The United States Coast Guard was the first recipient of the HC-130 variant. The USGC designation for the first order in 1958 was R8V-1G, but with the introduction of the Tri-Service aircraft designation system in 1962, this was changed to HC-130B.[1]
Six USCG HC-130E aircraft were produced in 1964,[2] but production soon switched to the new C-130H platform which was entering service. The first HC-130H flew on 8 December 1964.[3] The USCG currently still operates this aircraft.
First flown in 1964, the USAF HC-130P Combat King aircraft has served many roles and missions. Based on the C-130E airframe, it was modified to conduct search and rescue missions, provide a command and control platform, conduct in-flight refueling of helicopters, and carry supplemental fuel in additional internal cargo bay fuel tanks for extending range or air refueling. They were also modified to employ the Fulton surface-to-air recovery system, although this system has since been discontinued and the specialized equipment removed. The HC-130N was a follow-up order without the Fulton recovery system. All USAF HC-130Ps have since had their Fulton recovery systems removed.
The new HC-130J aircraft are derived from the Lockheed Martin KC-130J tanker.[4] The USCG has six HC-130J in service, but they are not capable of refueling helicopters. The first delivery was in October 2003 for the United States Coast Guard[5] They initially operated in a logistic support role until they received significant modifications, including installations of a large window on each side of the fuselage to allow crew members to visually scan the sea surface, the addition of an inverse synthetic aperture sea search radar, flare tubes, a forward-looking infrared/electro-optical sensor, a gaseous oxygen system for the crew and an enhanced communications suite. The first of these modified HC-130J was delivered in March 2008.[6]
The USAF HC-130J Combat King II combat rescue variant has modifications for in-flight refueling of helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft, including refueling pods on underwing pylons and additional internal fuel tanks in the cargo bay. Lockheed Martin officials conducted the first flight of the USAF HC-130J version on 29 July 2010.[7] It was delivered to the USAF in September 2010,[8] but will undergo further testing before achieving Initial Operational Capability in 2012.
The HC-130J personnel recovery aircraft completed developmental testing on 14 March 2011. The final test point was air-to-air refueling, and was the first ever boom refueling of a C-130 where the aircraft’s refueling receiver was installed during aircraft production. This test procedure also applied to the MC-130J Combat Shadow II aircraft in production for Air Force Special Operations Command.[9]
The Air Force plans to eventually buy up to 78 HC-130Js to equip rescue squadrons in the active Air Force, the Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard.[10]
The USAF HC-130P/N can fly in the day against a reduced threat; however, crews normally fly night, low-level, air refueling and airdrop operations using night vision goggles (NVG). The aircraft can routinely fly low-level NVG tactical flight profiles to avoid detection, and to enhance the probability of mission success and survivability near populated areas, crews employ tactics that include incorporating no external lighting or communications, and avoiding radar and weapons detection.
Secondary mission capabilities include performing tactical airdrops of pararescue specialist teams, small bundles, zodiac watercraft, or four-wheel drive all-terrain vehicles; and providing direct assistance to a survivor in advance of the arrival of a recovery vehicle. Other capabilities are extended visual and electronic searches over land or water, tactical airborne radar approaches and unimproved airfield operations. A team of three Pararescuemen (PJ's), trained in emergency trauma medicine, harsh environment survival and assisted evasion techniques, is part of the basic mission crew complement.
HC-130P/N aircraft of the Combat Air Forces (CAF) are currently undergoing extensive modifications. These modifications include night vision-compatible interior and exterior lighting, a personnel locator system compatible with aircrew survival radios, improved digital low-power color radar and forward-looking infrared systems.
Coast Guard HC-130s were primarily acquired for long-range overwater search missions, support airlift, maritime patrol, North Atlantic ice patrol and command and control of search and rescue, replacing previously operated HU-16 Albatross and HC-123 Provider aircraft. Like their USAF counterparts, USCG HC-130s also have the capability of air dropping rescue equipment to survivors at sea or over open terrain.
The MC-130P Combat Shadow series of aircraft entered service during the Vietnam War as the HC-130P SAR command and control/vertical lift aerial refueling aircraft. Combat Shadows have been part of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) since the mid-1980s. In February 1996, AFSOC's 28-aircraft tanker fleet was redesignated the MC-130P, aligning the variant with AFSOC's other M-series special operations mission aircraft.[11][12]
The USCG operates 21 HC-130H aircraft from four bases around the United States: CGAS Sacramento (former McClellan AFB), CGAS Clearwater, CGAS Kodiak and CGAS Barbers Point (formerly NAS Barbers Point).[13] The aircraft are used for search and rescue, enforcement of laws and treaties, illegal drug interdiction, marine environmental protection, military readiness, International Ice Patrol missions, as well as cargo and personnel transport.[14]
The service also currently operates an additional 6 HC-130J aircraft from CGAS Elizabeth City, but they are not equipped for aerial refueling of helicopters.
The HC-130P/HC-130N is the only dedicated fixed-wing combat search and rescue platform in the Air Force inventory. Units operating the aircraft include the 71st and 79th Rescue Squadrons (71 RQS, 79 RQS) in the US Air Force's Air Combat Command, the 102d Rescue Squadron (102 RQS), 129th Rescue Squadron (129 RQS) and 211th Rescue Squadron (211 RQS) in the Air National Guard, and the 39th Rescue Squadron (39 RQS) in the Air Force Reserve Command.
HC-130s were assigned to the Air Combat Command (ACC) from 1992 to 2003; prior to 1992, they were assigned to the Air Rescue Service as part of Military Airlift Command (MAC). In October 2003, operational responsibility for the Continental United States (CONUS) and Alaskan air search and rescue (SAR) mission, as well as the world-wide combat search and rescue (CSAR) mission was transferred to Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) at Hurlburt Field, Florida.
In October 2006, all USAF CSAR forces were reassigned back to Air Combat Command with the exception of those Alaska Air National Guard CSAR assets which were transferred to the operational claimancy of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). The CONUS and Alaska SAR missions were also transferred back to ACC and PACAF, respectively. However, the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) that had been previously located at McClellan Air Force Base, California and Scott Air Force Base, Illinois under MAC and at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia under ACC, was relocated to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida under the control of 1st Air Force, the USAF component command to U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and ACC's numbered air force for the Air National Guard.
While under AFSOC and since returning to ACC and PACAF, USAF, AFRC and ANG HC-130s have been deployed to Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Djibouti, Iraq, Afghanistan[15], and Greece in support of Operations Southern and Northern Watch, Operation Allied Force, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Unified Protector. HC-130s also support continuous alert commitments in Alaska, and provide rescue coverage for NASA Space Shuttle operations in Florida.
The USAF's first HC-130Js are currently scheduled to gain initial operating capability in mid-2012, permitting retirement of the HC-130P and HC-130N aircraft which were built in the mid and late 1960s.[16] The first HC-130J was delivered by Lockheed Martin to Air Combat Command on September 23, 2010 for testing.[8]
There are 13 HC-130 aircraft operated by the active Air Force, 13 by the Air National Guard, and 10 by the Air Force Reserve.[17]
Data from USCG Specs[14]
General characteristics
Performance
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