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Learn=20 More

EC-130E ABCCC -- EC-130E Rivet Rider / Commando Solo -- EC-130H = Rivet Fire /=20 Compass Call

Overview

EC-130E=20 ABCCC

EC-130E Commando Solo / = Rivet=20 Rider

EC-130E=20 Images

EC-130H Compass Call / = Rivet=20 Fire

EC-130H=20 Images

Sources and=20 Resources

EC-130E ABCCC

The EC-130E ABCCC consists of seven aircraft that are used as an = Airborne=20 Battlefield Command and Control Center. The EC-130E is a modified C-130=20 "Hercules"; aircraft designed to carry the USC-48 Airborne Battlefield = Command=20 and Control Center Capsules (ABCCC III). These one-of-a kind aircraft = include=20 the addition of external antennae to accommodate the vast number of = radios in=20 the capsule, heat exchanger pods for additional air conditioning, an = aerial=20 refueling system and special mounted rails for uploading and downloading = the=20 USC-48 capsule. The ABCCC has distinctive air conditioner intakes fore = of the=20 engines ("Mickey Mouse ears"), two HF radio probes-towards the tips of = both=20 wings, and three mushroom-shaped antennas on the top of the aircraft - = and, of=20 course, numerous antennas on the belly. As an Air Combat Command asset, = ABCCC=20 (A-B-Triple-C) is an integral part of the Tactical Air Control System. = While=20 functioning as a direct extension of ground-based command and control=20 authorities, the primary mission is providing flexibility in the overall = control=20 of tactical air resources. In addition, to maintain positive control of = air=20 operations, ABCCC can provide communications to higher headquarters, = including=20 national command authorities, in both peace and wartime environments. = The USC-48=20 ABCCC III capsule, which fits into the aircraft cargo compartment, = measures 40=20 feet long, weighs approximately 20,000 pounds and costs $9 million each. = The=20 ABCCC provides unified and theater commanders an Airborne Battlefield = Command=20 and Control Center (ABCCC), with the capability for combat operations = during=20 war, contingencies, exercises, and special classified missions. A highly = trained=20 force of mission ready crew members and specially equipped EC-130E = aircraft to=20 support worldwide combat operations. Mission roles include airborne = extensions=20 of the Air Operations Center (AOC) and Airborne Air Support Operations = Center=20 (ASOC) for command and control of Offensive Air Support (OAS) = operations; and=20 airborne on-scene command for special operations such as airdrops or=20 evacuations. The ABCCC system is a high-tech automated airborne command = and=20 control facility featuring computer generated color displays, digitally=20 controlled communications, and rapid data retrieval. The platform's 23 = fully=20 securable radios, secure teletype, and 15 automatic fully computerized = consoles,=20 allow the battlestaff to quickly analyze current combat situations and = direct=20 offensive air support towards fast-developing targets. ABCCC, is = equipped with=20 its most recent upgrade the Joint Tactical Information Distribution = System,=20 allows real-time accountability of airborne tracks to capsule displays = through=20 data links with AWACS E-3 "Sentry" aircraft. Return=20 to Top

= =

EC-130E Commando Solo / Rivet = Rider Return to Top

The EC-130E Commando Solo = (initially known=20 as Volant Solo) is available to commanders for localized targeting of = specific=20 avenues of communication. The EC-130E exists in Comfy Levi and Rivet = Rider=20 versions. Senior Hunter aircraft flying the SENIOR = SCOUT=20 mission support Commando Solo aircraft. This weapon system is the = mainstay=20 information operations aircraft for peacekeeping and peacemaking = operations and=20 humanitarian efforts which comprise a large percentage of today's = military=20 missions. Commando Solo conducts psychological operations and civil = affairs=20 broadcast missions in the standard AM, FM, HF, TV, and military = communications=20 bands. Missions are flown at the maximum altitudes possible to ensure = optimum=20 propagation patterns. The EC-130 flies either day or night scenarios = with equal=20 success, and is air refuelable. A typical mission consists of a = single-ship=20 orbit which is offset from the desired target audience. The targets may = be=20 either military or civilian personnel. Secondary missions include = command and=20 control communications countermeasures (C3CM) and limited intelligence=20 gathering.=20

With the capability to control the electronic spectrum of radio, = television,=20 and military communication bands in a focused area, the Commando Solo = aircraft=20 can prepare the battlefield through psychological operations and civil = affairs=20 broadcasts. These modified C-130Es provide broadcasting capabilities = primarily=20 for psychological operations missions; support disaster relief = operations; and=20 perform communications jamming in military spectrum and intelligence = gathering.=20 One oversized blade antenna is under each wing with a third extending = forward=20 from the vertical fin. A retractable wire antenna is released from the = modified=20 beavertail, with a second extending from the belly and held vertical by = a 500=20 pound weight. Return=20 to Top

Capabilities include:=20

Reception, analysis, and transmission of various electronic = signals to=20 exploit electromagnetic spectrum for maximum battlefield advantage=20
Secondary capabilities include jamming, deception, and = manipulation=20 techniques=20
Unrefueled range 2800 NM=20
Broadcasts in frequency spectrums including AM/FM radio, = short-wave,=20 television, and military command, control and communications channels=20

Rivet Rider modification includes:=20

VHF and UHF Worldwide format color TV=20
Infrared countermeasures [chaff/flare dispensers plus infrared = jammers]=20
Vertical trailing wire antenna=20
Fire suppressant foam in fuel tank=20
Radar warning receiver=20
Self-contained navigation system

The modification added a pair of underwing pylon mounted 23X6 foot = equipment=20 pods, along with X-antennae mounted on both sides of the vertical fin. = Six=20 aircraft have been modified to the Rivet Rider configuration by the = contractor,=20 Lockheed Martin; Ontario, California. Commando Solo and Senior Scout = operations=20 may be long or short range missions with extended orbit delays planned = at the=20 aircraft operating ceiling, and may require one or multiple air = refuelings. Some=20 missions may require a combat profile, with a low altitude profile = enroute to=20 the mission orbit area. The electronic environment may be hostile, with = enemy=20 ability to jam all communications radios and electronic transmission = systems; to=20 intercept and use intelligence information transmitted over nonsecure = electronic=20 systems and radios; and to pinpoint the position of the aircraft = emitting any=20 electronic transmission or signal. Commando Solo supported the operation = JOINT=20 GUARD mission by shutting down anti-SFOR propaganda through radio and TV = broadcasts over Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of SFOR operations.

EC-130E=20 Images Return to Top

=20 = = = =20 =

EC-130H Compass Call / Rivet = Fire Return to Top

Compass Call is the designation = for a=20 modified version of Lockheed corporation's C-130 Hercules aircraft = configured to=20 perform tactical command, control and communications countermeasures or = C3CM.=20 Targeting command and control systems provides commanders with an = immense=20 advantage before and during the air campaign. COMPASS CALL provides a = non-lethal=20 means of denying and disrupting enemy command and control, degrading his = combat=20 capability and reducing losses to friendly forces.=20

The EC-130H Compass Call is the only US wide-area offensive = information=20 warfare platform, Compass Call provides disruptive communications = jamming and=20 other unique capabilities to support the Joint Force Commander across = the=20 spectrum of conflict. Specifically, the modified aircraft uses noise = jamming to=20 prevent communication or degrade the transfer of information essential = to=20 command and control of weapon systems and other resources. It primarily = supports=20 tactical air operations but also can provide jamming support to ground = force=20 operations.

Modifications to the aircraft include an electronic=20 countermeasures system (Rivet Fire), and air refueling capability and = associated=20 navigation and communications systems. The upgrade of the fleet to Block = 30 is=20 underway to improve system reliability and currency, however a two year = funding=20 gap exists between first squadron completion and second squadron start. = This gap=20 and other funding reductions have forced the SPO to stretch out Blk 30=20 completion to FY04, causing both fiscal inefficiencies and issues of = technical=20 obsolescence. Although some funding has been cut, limiting COMPASS CALL = response=20 to new threat systems, with the software reprogrammability of the new = Block 30=20 aircraft, analysis and development of countermeasures to threats can be = further=20 leveraged by being more timely and effective. The Block 35 initiative = will=20 inject new technology required to improve reliability and increase = COMPASS=20 CALL's Offensive Counterinformation (OCI) capability against modern C2 = systems.=20 Major advantages are an update of receiver subsystem to satisfy current=20 operational shortfalls and address immediate supportability problems.=20 Procurement funding will subsequently modify/convert seven Block 30 = COMPASS CALL=20 aircraft to Block 40.=20

During Operation Desert Storm EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare = aircraft, operating outside Iraqi airspace, safe from Iraqi defenses, = jammed=20 communications, hindering the effectiveness of Iraq's integrated air = defense=20 network. Rivet Fire has demonstrated its powerful effect on enemy = command and=20 control networks in Panama and Iraq.

Compass Call integrates into = tactical=20 air operation at any level. Although Compass Call primarily supports=20 interdiction and offensive counter-air campaigns, the truly versatile = and=20 flexible nature of the aircraft and its crew enable the power of EC-130H = to be=20 brought to bear on virtually any combat situations.=20

The EC-130H aircraft carries a combat crew of 13 people. Four members = are=20 responsible for aircraft flight and navigation, while nine members = operate and=20 maintain the Rivet Fire equipment. The mission crew consists of an = electronic=20 warfare officer, who is the mission crew commander (MCC), and = experienced=20 cryptologic linguist is the mission crew supervisor (MCS), six analysis=20 operators and an airborne maintenance technician (AMT).

Aided by the automated system, the crew analyze the signal = environment,=20 designate targets and ensure the system is operating effectively. = Targets can be=20 designated before the mission takes off, acquired in flight or the = MCC/MCS can=20 receive additional tasking at any time from outside agencies (i.e. = Airborne=20 Warning and Control System, RC-135 and Airborne Command and Control = System.) A=20 radio frequency signal runs from the beginning of the received path = through the=20 system and is analyzed at different points along the way. In a war = situation, a=20 signal may be received and linguists on board the plane analyze it to = determine=20 if it is an enemy signal. If the system decides there is a threat,=20 communications would be jammed by the officer on board pressing the red = buttons.=20 On the back of the plane is microwave powered equipment which sends out = high=20 energy radio frequency output or interference.

The latest technologies, referred to as the Block 30 system, update = the fleet=20 and keep the 41st Electronic Combat Squadron=E2=80=99s Combat Systems = Flight busy=20 ironing out the bugs. The flight=E2=80=99s 25 computer and electronic = warfare troops=20 perform organizational level maintenance on EC-130H weapons systems. = Block 30=20 totally rearranges the equipment on the EC-130H and incorporates fiber = optics.=20 There are more fiber optic terminations on this plane than any other = plane=20 flying, commercial or military today. Block 30 improvements include = faster and=20 more powerful computers and integrated work stations which enable the = fleet to=20 accomplish its primary mission of denying enemy commanders the ability = to=20 command their troops in the battlefield. Unlike Block 20, which operates = through=20 a mainframe, Block 30 is broken down into different components which = communicate=20 with each other.

The conversion to the Block 30 system, designed by = Lockheed=20 and several other contractors, has been a time-consuming project. Each = plane=20 requires approximately 16 months for modification at the Lockheed Martin = Skunk=20 Works plant in Palmdale. Unlike other weapons systems which are tested = before=20 they are bought, Block 30 was purchased before being tested. All new = hardware=20 and a five-fold increase in the amount of software, which includes over = one=20 million lines of computer code, have produced the usual minor bugs that = always=20 seem to appear with new technology improvements. One common problem is = the=20 failure of a built-in self test. The main hardware issue has been = getting=20 spares. The spare issue is a problem of manufacturers not making the = number of=20 parts and components needed. Budget cuts and appropriations have caused = some of=20 this.=20

Compass Call is tasked by all the unified commands and therefore = subject to=20 worldwide deployment in support of tactical air/ground forces on very = short=20 notice. The Compass Call EC-130H is flown by the 355th Wing's 41st and = 43rd=20 Electronic Combat Squadrons, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. The = COMPASS=20 CALL fleet is comprised of 13 aircraft (10PAA/ 2BAI/ 1 attrition = reserve) in two=20 squadrons (41ECS and 43ECS).

EC-130H=20 Images Return to Top

= =

Sources and Resources Return to Top

EC-130=20 Employment AFSOC Instruction I11-202V17 Jun 97=20
EC-130J COMMANDO SOLO - US Air Force Link Factsheets =

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