The Lockheed RC-130 Hercules are retired variants of the C-130 Hercules, designed for photographic or electronic reconnaissance missions.[1]
| RC-130 Hercules | |
|---|---|
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| |
| A C-130 similar to this one, can be modified for reconnaissance | |
| Role | Military reconnaissance aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed |
| First flight | 1958 |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
| Produced | 15 |
| Developed from | Lockheed C-130 Hercules |
Operational history
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On 2 September 1958, C-130A-II 56-0528 was shot down after it intruded into Soviet airspace during a reconnaissance mission along the Turkish-Armenian border.[2]
Variants
edit- C-130A-II
- Electronics reconnaissance variant for use by 7407th Combat Support Wing, ten conversions from C-130A.[1]
- RC-130A
- Photo reconnaissance variant, one converted from a TC-130A and 15 built new.[1]
- C-130B-II
- Electronic reconnaissance variant, 15 converted from C-130B later designated RC-130B.[1]
- RC-130B
- Re-designated from C-130B-II, all later converted back to C-130Bs.[1]
- RC-130S
- Two JC-130A aircraft were modified with the Battlefield Illumination Airborne System (BIAS) for night search-and rescue missions with the 446th Tactical Airlift Wing.[1][3]
Operators
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See also
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Related development
- Lockheed C-130 Hercules
- Lockheed AC-130
- Lockheed DC-130
- Lockheed EC-130
- Lockheed EC-130H Compass Call
- Lockheed HC-130
- Lockheed L-100 Hercules
- Lockheed LC-130
- Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules
- Lockheed Martin KC-130
- Lockheed MC-130
- Lockheed WC-130
Related lists
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Francillon 1982, p. 347-373
- ^ "NSA PDF file" (PDF).
- ^ Pike, John. "Battlefield Illumination Airborne System (BIAS)". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
- ^ "Why Iran's Air Force is Still Flying American Planes". 13 February 2017.
Bibliography
edit- Francillon, René. Lockheed Aircraft since 1913. London: Putnam, 1982. ISBN 0-370-30329-6.