C-130 Hercules
The RC-130 was configured for photo reconnaissance; the DC-130 launched and controlled drone targets for air defense weapons practice; the GC-130 was a drone director for research purposes; and the JC-130 recovered satellite capsules; the C-130D was fitted with skis and takeoff rockets for use in Antarctica. The HC-130 has been used for search and rescue, weather reconnaissance, recovering Discoverer capsules and NASA manned space flight modules. The HC-130 has also been used by special operations as a helicopter aerial refueler. Also, the C-130 was adapted for fire fighting and delivered 30,000 pounds of liquid fire suppressants over 30,000 square feet of forest in only 10 seconds.
C-130A Variants
C-130B Variants
C-130E Variants
C-130H Variants
|
| C | AC | EC | HC | KC | LC | MC | RC | WC |
|---|
| A | C-130A | AC-130A |
| B | C-130B | | | HC-130B | KC-130B | C-130BL | | RC-130B | WC-130B |
| C |
| D | C-130D |
| E | C-130E | AC-130E | EC-130E | HC-130E | | | MC-130E | | WC-130E |
| F | C-130F | | | | KC-130F | LC-130F |
| G | C-130G | | EC-130G |
| H | C-130H | AC-130H | EC-130H | HC-130H | KC-130H | LC-130H | MC-130H | | WC-130H |
| I |
| J | C-130J | | | | KC-130J | | | | WC-130J |
| N | | | | HC-130N |
| P | | | | HC-130P |
| Q | | | EC-130Q |
| R | | | | | KC-130R | LC-130R |
| S | | | | | | | | RC-130S |
| T | C-130T | | | | KC-130T |
| U | | AC-130U |
| Mission |
|---|
| AC - Gunship |
| EC - Electronic Warfare |
| HC - Search & Rescue |
| KC - Aerial Tanker |
| LC- Arctic & Anarctic Support |
| MC - Special Operations |
| RC - Reconnaissance |
| WC - Weather Reconnaissance |
C-130 Missions & Variants
| Missions |
Specialized Variant |
| Tactical Airlift |
All |
| Aerial Tanker |
KC-130B, KC-130F, KC-13H, HC-130H(N), HC-130N,
HC-130P, KC-130R, KC-130T |
| Command & Control |
EC-130E (ABCCC), EC-130G, & EC-130Q |
| Maritime Patrol |
C-130H-NP/PC-130H |
| Special Operations |
MC-130E & MC-130H |
| Search & Rescue |
SC-130B/HC-130B, HC-130E, HA-130H, HC-130H(N),
HC-130N, & HC-130P |
| Humanitarian Relief |
All |
| Staff/VIP Transport |
VC-130B & VC-130H |
| Reconnaissance |
RC-130B |
| Airborne Hospital |
C-130E (AEH) |
| Arctic & Anarctic Support |
C-130BL/LC-130F, C-130D, LC-130H, & LC-130R |
| Drone Control |
GC-130A/DC-130A, DC-130E, & DC-130H |
| Electronic Warfare |
EC-130E (CL), EC-130E (RR), EC-130H |
| Space & Missile Operations |
JC-130A, JC-130B, & NC-130H |
| Test & Evaluation |
NC-13A, NC-130B, JC-130E, NC-130E, JC-130H, &
RC-130S |
| Weather Reconnaissance |
WC-130B, WC-130E, WC-130H |
| Gunship |
AC-130A, AC-130E, AC-130H, & AC-130U |
| Model |
First Delivery |
Last Delivery |
| C-130A |
1956 |
Nov 1959 |
| C-130B |
1959 |
Mar 1963 |
| C-130E |
1962 |
Mar 1974 |
| C-130H |
1964 |
In Production |
| C-130H2 |
1978 |
1992 |
| C-130H3 |
1992 |
1997 |
| C-130J |
1996 |
In Production |
| L-100 |
1964 |
Dec 1968 |
| L-100-20 |
1968 |
Mar 1981 |
| L-100-30 |
1970 |
In Production |
| C-130H-30 |
1980 |
1997 |
