Lockheed MC-130

Lockheed MC-130
Land	Usa
Roll	Specialoperationer militära transportflygplan
Första flygningen	April 2011
Byggd	100+

Den Lockheed MC-130 är den grundläggande beteckningen för en familj av specialuppdragsflygplan som drivs av United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), en flygel av flygutbildningskommandot och en AFSOC-stödd flygel från flygvapnets reservkommando. Baserat på Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport är MC-130-talets uppdrag infiltration, exfiltrering och återanskaffning av specialoperationsstyrkor och lufttankning av (främst) specialoperationshelikopter och tiltrotorflygplan.

Källkod: Lockheed MC-130 på Wikipedia

Lockheed MC-130P Stridsskugga går runt
Fotograf	Vladimir Yakubov
Lokalisering	Capital City Flygshow
Bilder	146

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Hercules C-130
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Lokalisering	Unknow
Bilder	46

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The “Shadow” in the Night

Den Lockheed MC-130P Combat Shadow was a specialized variant of the C-130 Hercules, operated by the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). Its primary mission was the clandestine air-to-air refueling of special operations helicopters, such as the MH-53 Pave Low and MH-60 Pave Hawk. Operating primarily at night and at low altitudes, the Combat Shadow provided the “long legs” necessary for deep-penetration rescue and infiltration missions behind enemy lines.

Attribute	Technical Specification (MC-130P)
Roll	Special Operations Air Refueling / Infiltration
besättning	7 (2 Pilots, Navigator, Flight Engineer, Radio Operator, 2 Loadmasters)
Kraftverk	4 × Allison T56-A-15 turboprops
Horsepower	4,591 shp (3,425 kW) per engine
Maximum Speed	289 knots (333 mph / 535 km/h)
Refueling Speed	105 to 120 knots (Critical for helicopters)
Service Ceiling	33,000 feet (10,000 m)
Electronic Warfare	ALR-69 Radar Warning, ALE-40 Chaff/Flare dispensers

Critical Engineering and Mission Systems

Low-Speed Aerodynamics: To refuel helicopters safely, the MC-130P had to fly at exceptionally low speeds, often near its stall limit. This required precise throttle management and specialized training for the flight crew.
Dual Drogue Refueling: The aircraft was equipped with two underwing refueling pods (usually the Sargent-Fletcher system). These pods extended hoses with “drogue” baskets that helicopter probes would plug into.
Night Vision Goggle (NVG) Compatible: Every light on the aircraft—inside and out—was modified to be compatible with NVGs. This allowed the “Shadow” to fly “blacked out” during covert operations, remaining invisible to the naked eye while providing a beacon for friendly forces.
Advanced Navigation: Unlike standard C-130s, the MC-130P featured highly accurate self-contained navigation systems, including GPS and Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), to find isolated landing zones or refueling points in total darkness.

Operational Legacy

From HC-130P to MC-130P: Originally designated as the HC-130P for Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), the aircraft were transferred to AFSOC and re-designated MC-130P in 1996 to reflect their broader special operations role.
Combat Proven: The Combat Shadow saw action in nearly every major U.S. conflict since Vietnam, including Operation Just Cause (Panama), Desert Storm, and the early years of the Global War on Terror.
Rescue at Sea: Beyond combat, the MC-130P was frequently used to drop pararescue (PJ) teams and survival equipment to distressed vessels in the middle of the ocean.
Retirement: The MC-130P was officially retired in 2015, replaced by the more powerful and technologically advanced MC-130J Commando II.