Function: The MC-130E Combat Talon I and MC-130H Combat Talon II provide global, day, night and adverse weather capability to infiltrate, resupply and exfiltrate U.S. and allied special operations forces.







History: The MC-130E flew combat missions during the war in Southeast Asia and took part in the attempted rescue of Americans held at the Son Tay prisoner of war camp in 1970. In 1983, MC-130E's participated in Operation Urgent Fury to rescue Americans from the island nation of Grenada. One of the Combat Talon crews earned the Mackay Trophy for the most meritorious flight of the year by delivering Army Rangers to Point Salines Airfield amidst a barrage of anti-aircraft fire. In 1989, the MC-130E participated in Operation Just Cause in Panama, helping to seize the airfield at Rio Hato. During Desert Storm the MC-130E's primary role was psychological operations as it airdropped 11 BLU-82/B general purpose bombs and flew multiple missions air dropping and dispersing leaflets. Its secondary role was combat search and rescue.



In 1994, the MC-130E deployed to Haiti with other Air Force Special Operations Command aircraft during operations Restore Democracy and Uphold Democracy.





The MC-130H evacuated Americans from the U.S. Embassy in Liberia in 1996. In 1997, the MC-130H participated in Operation Guardian Retrieval, helping to evacuate Americans from the U.S. Embassy in Zaire. Later that year the MC-130H was part of the special operations forces called on for possible support in Cambodia.



The Talon I provided combat search and rescue and special operations forces support for Operation Southern Watch in Iraq in 1997. In September 1997, the MC-130H participated in the search for a C-141 that collided with another aircraft off the coast of Angola. The aircraft also evacuated noncombatant Americans from the Republic of the Congo in 1997. The mission earned the aircrew the Mackay Trophy.



In 1998, the MC-130s returned to Saudi Arabia during the buildup of U.S. forces to convince Iraq to comply with U.N. weapons inspections.











Description: Both aircraft are equipped with in-flight refueling equipment, terrain-following and terrain-avoidance radar, an inertial and global positioning satellite navigation system, and a high-speed aerial delivery system. The special navigation and aerial delivery systems are used to locate small drop zones and deliver people or equipment with greater accuracy and higher speeds than possible with a standard C-130. The aircraft also can penetrate hostile airspace at low altitudes, and crews are specially trained in night and adverse weather operations.



Combat Talons feature highly automated controls and displays to reduce crew size and workload. The cockpit and cargo areas are compatible with night vision goggles. The integrated control and display subsystem combines basic aircraft flight, tactical and mission sensor data into a comprehensive set of display formats that assist each operator in performing tasks efficiently.



On the MC-130H, the pilot and co-pilot displays on the cockpit instrument panel and the navigator/electronic warfare operator console -- on the aft portion of the flight deck -- each have two video displays and a data-entry keyboard. The electronic warfare operator also has a data-entry keyboard and two video displays, one of which is dedicated to electronic warfare data.



The primary pilot and co-pilot display formats include basic flight instrumentation and situational data. The display formats are available with symbology alone or with symbology overlaid with sensor video.



The navigator uses radar ground map displays, forward-looking infrared displays, tabular mission management displays and equipment status information. The electronic warfare operator's displays are used for viewing electronic warfare data and to supplement the navigators in certain critical phases.











General Characteristics, MC-130E/H Combat Talon I/II





Builder:

Lockheed







Contractor:

Lockheed Martin Federal Systems (MC-130H)







Unit Cost:

MC-130E, $45.2 million



MC-130H, $78 million (fiscal 1998 constant dollars)







Power Plant:

Four Allison T56-A-15 turboprop engines







Thrust:

4,910 shaft horsepower each engine







Length:

MC-130E: 100 feet, 10 inches (30.7 meters)



MC-130H: 99 feet, 9 inches (30.4 meters)







Height:

38 feet, 6 inches (11.7 meters)







Wingspan:

132 feet, 7 inches (40.4 meters)







Speed:

300 mph













Load:

MC-130E: 53 troops, 26 paratroopers



MC-130H: 75 troops, 52 paratroopers







Ceiling:

33,000 feet (10,000 meters)







Maximum Take-off Weight:

155,000 pounds (69,750 kilograms)







Range:

2,700 nautical miles (unlimited with air refueling)







Crew:

MC-130E: Officers - two pilots, two navigators and an electronic warfare officer; enlisted - flight engineer, two loadmasters and communications specialist



MC-130H: Officers - two pilots, a navigator and electronic warfare officer; enlisted - flight engineer and two loadmasters







Inventory:

Active force (MC-130H), 23

Reserve (MC-130E), 14

ANG, 0







Dates Deployed:

MC-130E, 1966

MC-130H, June 1991