MC-130E Combat Talon I
The MC-130E Combat Talon’s primary mission is infiltration and exfiltration of people and equipment in or out of a combat zone. Its secondary mission is aerial helicopter refueling. The MC-130E has a deep penetrating helicopter refueling role during special operations missions.
MC-130P Combat Shadows and MC-130E Combat Talon I aircraft have similar missions, but the Combat Talon I has more instruments designed for covert operations. Both aircraft are designed to deliver and pick up people and equipment in hostile territory. They also air refuel special operations helicopters and usually fly missions at night with air crews using night-vision goggles. The Combat Talon I, however, has an electronic countermeasures suite and terrain-following radar that enables it to fly extremely low, counter enemy radar and penetrate deep into hostile territory.
Nine of the MC-130E's were equipped with surface-to-air Fulton air recovery system, a safe, rapid method of recovering personnel or equipment from either land or water. It involves use of a large, helium-filled balloon used to raise a 450-foot (136.5 meters) nylon lift line. The MC-130E flies towards the lift line at 150 miles per hour (240 kilometers per hour), snags it with scissors-like arms located on the aircraft nose and the person or equipment is lifted off, experiencing less shock than that caused by a parachute opening. Aircrew members then use a hydraulic winch to pull the person or equipment aboard through the open rear cargo door. By 1996 the 8th SOS was the only unit in the world that maintained crew proficiency in the use of the Fulton recovery system, and had been prepared to launch if called upon since the late 1960's. A fatal accident in 1982, the only fatality in 17 years of live pick-ups, damaged the credibility of the personnel pick-up system within the special operations community. That, along with the increased availability of long-range air-refuelabl e MH-53J Pave Low and MH-47E Chinook helicopters, and tightening budgets, caused AFSOC to deactivate the capability in September 1996.
Throughout the war in Southeast Asia, Air Commando MC-130E Combat Talons in Vietnam would fly alone and unescorted to drop leaflets to the enemy, insert special teams deep into North Vietnam or conduct resupply missions. The missions were so secret that crews flying the Operation Stray Goose mission were immediately separated from conventional crews when they arrived in Vietnam at their forward operating bases.
From late December 1989 to early January 1990, 23 AF participated in the re-establishment of democracy in the Republic of Panama during Operation JUST CAUSE. Special operations aircraft included active and AFRES AC-130 Spectre gunships, EC-130 Volant Solo psychological operations aircraft from the ANG, HC-130P/N Combat Shadow tankers, MC-130E Combat Talons, and MH-53J Pave Low and MH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters.
As part of Commando Vision, which started in 1994, the 919th Special Operations Wing at Duke Field, Florida, retired its AC-130A gunships and gained MC-130P Combat Shadows, flown by the newly stood-up 5 SOS, and MC-130E Combat Talons, flown by the 711 SOS. Throughout FY95 they coverted from AC-130A Gunships to MC-130E Combat Talons with the last AC-130A Gunship retired 1 October 1995. Their mission changed from close air support, armed reconnaissance, and armed interdiction to Air Refueling and Special Operations Support.
During Desert Storm, the MC-130E Combat Talon I played a vital role. One third of all airdrops in the first three weeks of the war were performed by MC-130s. Its primary role was psychological operations, as it air-dropped 11 BLU-82/B general purpose bombs and flew multiple missions air-dropping and dispersing leaflets. Its secondary role was combat search and rescue. Following the Persian Gulf war, MC-130s flew extensively in support of Operation Provide Comfort.
The MC-130E Talon aircraft is equipped for leaflet-drop PSYOP missions. Aerial leaflet operations in Bosnia during the mid-1990s, however, were conducted primarily by helicopter aviation.
Against the backdrop of Kenya, a country known for its wild game preserves and scenic beauty, a contingent of 100 airmen from Duke Field, Fla., trained in Natural Fire 2000, a humanitarian and civic assistance exercise. The joint/combined exercise began 04 May 2000 and involved several branches of the U.S. military along with the East African countries of Tanzania and Uganda. U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., was in charge of the American forces. MC-130E Combat Talon I aircraft belonging to Air Force Reserve Command’s 919th Special Operations Wing along with active-duty people and reservists supported the missions. The total force contingent returned home in late May.
On 05 February 2000 the 8th Special Operations Squadron and 716th Maintenance Squadron transferred 26 miles from Hurlburt Field, Fla., to Duke Field to serve with Air Force Reserve Command’s 919th Special Operations Wing. With the move, the squadrons, which had called Hurlburt home for 26 years, together became the Air Force’s only active associate unit. The active duty also transferred six MC-130E Combat Talon I aircraft to the Reserve, adding them to the eight MC-130Es already owned by the 919th and flown by the 711th SOS.
The MC-130E has an improved terrain following/terrain avoidance radar with increased MTBF. The lack of spares and repairable assemblies for the current system has complicated the management of it. An upgrade will significantly increase the reliability and maintainability of the APQ-122 by increasing the MTBF to 40 hours. The acquisition strategy is to award a sole source contract to Raytheon.
The Air Force CV-22 is being developed to replace the entire MH-53J Pave Low fleet, and several other Air Force Special Operations aircraft currently in service, including the MC-130E Combat Talon l.
