MC-130J Commando II, 2013 - Update

[5th-Domain]

DB Selector

DB3K

Affected DBID(s)

3172 - MC-130J Commando II, 2013 & MC-130J MAC [Commando II], 2025

Summary of Changes

• Add AN/APQ-186 MMR/TFR, (Silent Knight Radar [SKR]). [1], [2], [8], [19]

• Add properties, Terrain Following, Terrain Avoidance, "The APQ-174/186 Multi-Mode Radar (MMR) family provides terrain following and terrain avoidance for a wide variety of military aircraft. The MMR allows safe flight down to a 100-ft set clearance at night, in adverse weather, and in high-threat environments. It lowers the probability of detection by enemy forces and increases mission success through terrain masking and minimizing time spent in threat range. It reduces risk to the aircrew and the aircraft by balancing the low-level terrain clearance altitude with flight safety considerations." [2]

• Add properties, Heads Up Display. [8]

• Increase top speed to 362 knots at 22,000 feet. [3], [4]

• Add Comms/Datalinks, dual SATCOM for voice/data. [4], [8]

• Add Comms/Datalink, Link 16. [8]

• Add Sensors, Electro Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) System. [4], [8], [10]. AN/AAS-52(V) Electro Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) System. [9]. #2825 AN/AAS-52 MTS [IR/EO]

• Add Sensor, LAIRCM. [4], [8]. ?? #2312 AN/AAQ-24(V) DIRCM/LAIRM ??

• Add Sensor, AN/ALR-56M radar warning receiver (RWR). [11]. #2412 AN/ALR-56M

• Add Sensor, AN/AAR-47(V) missile warning system (MWS), [11]. #2017 AN/AAR-47A(V)2

• Add Sensor, Modern DECM. RFCM System, [11], [12], [13], ALQ-251 radio frequency countermeasure (RFCM), [14], [15], [16] "At this time, little is known about this new RFCM system, other than the details provided in SNC’s statement. However, USSOCOM had a similar program back in 2015/2016, resulting in 2017 in a USD 67 million dollar contract (with options up to 300 million) awarded to BAE Systems to upgrade both the Ghostrider and the Commando II with a RFCM system to “detect, identify, locate, deny, degrade, disrupt, and defeat various threats that aircrews might encounter inside hostile airspace”." [17]

• Add Weapon, Rapid Dragon Weapon Pallet, [AGM-158B] Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-ER (JASSM-ER). [6], [7], [10]

• Add weapon, GBU-43/B MOAB [BLU-120/B], [7]

Sources

[1] https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/28048/mc-130j-special-ops-transports-are-finally-getting-this-terrain-following-radar-they-badly-need [2] https://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/apq174 [3] https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/c130/mc-130j-commando-ii.html [4] https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104510/mc-130j-commando-ii/ [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_MC-130#cite_note-128 [6] https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40958/mc-130j-commando-ii-simulated-launching-a-pallet-of-cruise-missiles-in-mock-strike-mission [7] https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/33716/air-force-unveils-first-test-of-arsenal-plane-concept-and-new-cleaver-munition [8] https://www.airforcemag.com/weapons-platforms/mc-130j/ [9] https://www.americanspecialops.com/usaf-special-operations/aircraft/mc-130j-commando-2/ [10] https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.php?aircraft_id=1217 [11] http://www.fi-aeroweb.com/Defense/MC-130J-Commando-II.html [12] https://www.key.aero/article/new-countermeasures-usaf-ac-130j-mc-130j [13] https://www.defenseworld.net/news/27333/US_Special_Operations_Command___s_C_130J_Planes_to_get_Radio_Frequency_Countermeasures#.YiQCZnrP1D8 [14] https://www.baesystems.com/sites/Satellite?c=BAEProduct_C&childpagename=Sweden%2FBAELayout&cid=1434575659653&pagename=SwedenWrapper [15] https://www.bcpowersys.com/military-programs/idecm-airborne-countermeasures/ [16] https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grumman-to-provide-key-electronic-warfare-capabilities-for-acmc-130j-aircraft [17] https://theaviationist.com/2020/07/10/the-ac-130j-and-mc-130j-to-receive-new-radio-frequency-countermeasure-systems/ [18] https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/productfamily/electronic-warfare [19] https://www.militaryaerospace.com/computers/article/16714162/lockheed-martin-to-install-secretive-radar-on-mc130j-aircraft-to-infiltrate-enemy-territory

[PygmalionOfCyprus]

Added 494. (All except the "Heads Up Display" flag, anyway -- we don't have a HUD flag, but rather an HMD flag, which is a little different.) Great ticket: good sourcing, easy-to-follow summary of changes.

[5th-Domain]

Fantastic, thanks.

[PygmalionOfCyprus]

Just dropping in to mention I've now added the ALQ-251 RFCM as it came up in a recent news roundup of ours. I think I left it as the -196 in 494 due to a lack of info about capabilities.