18 Lockheed MC-130H Combat Talon II (USAF)
The post-Vietnam era brought about a restructuring of the Combat Talon. After near cancellation in 1974, the Special Operations program languished until the Iran Hostage Crisis in 1979 and the invasion of Grenada in 1983 signalled the need for transport and support aircraft and trained crews to participate in the United States military special operations. During the mid-to late-1980s, the next version of the MC-130E Combat Talon I was being designed and tested. The MC-130H Combat Talon II entered service with the 8th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) on 29 June 1991; three others were delivered over the summer.
The new aircraft featured a stronger airframe and rear and aft cargo door modifications. The electronics suite had been upgraded and included a GPS system, special radars for navigating in adverse weather, and night vision goggles (NVG) capability. These new technologies allowed the MC-130H to fly as low as 250 feet (76 m) above ground level (AGL) in inclement weather and make faster, more accurate airdrops. Like its predecessor, the Combat Talon II can perform a variety of mission profiles, including daytime mid-level overwater flight and Jumpmaster Directed (JMD) personnel airdrop to night-time adverse weather terrain-following flight in mountainous terrain supporting airdrop and airland to covert and clandestine objectives.
Full Operational Capability for the Combat Talon II was reached in February 2000, and the 24 MC-130Hs were deployed to four squadrons: the 1st SOS, 7th SOS, 15th SOS, and the 550th SOS. The MC-130H has operated in several special operation missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, the Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. In this image, an MC-130H (serial number: 64-0476) Combat Talon II from the 15th SOS, stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida, takes off on a secret night mission.
18 Lockheed MC-130H Combat Talon II (USAF)
The post-Vietnam era brought about a restructuring of the Combat Talon. After near cancellation in 1974, the Special Operations program languished until the Iran Hostage Crisis in 1979 and the invasion of Grenada in 1983 signalled the need for transport and support aircraft and trained crews to participate in the United States military special operations. During the mid-to late-1980s, the next version of the MC-130E Combat Talon I was being designed and tested. The MC-130H Combat Talon II entered service with the 8th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) on 29 June 1991; three others were delivered over the summer.
The new aircraft featured a stronger airframe and rear and aft cargo door modifications. The electronics suite had been upgraded and included a GPS system, special radars for navigating in adverse weather, and night vision goggles (NVG) capability. These new technologies allowed the MC-130H to fly as low as 250 feet (76 m) above ground level (AGL) in inclement weather and make faster, more accurate airdrops. Like its predecessor, the Combat Talon II can perform a variety of mission profiles, including daytime mid-level overwater flight and Jumpmaster Directed (JMD) personnel airdrop to night-time adverse weather terrain-following flight in mountainous terrain supporting airdrop and airland to covert and clandestine objectives.
Full Operational Capability for the Combat Talon II was reached in February 2000, and the 24 MC-130Hs were deployed to four squadrons: the 1st SOS, 7th SOS, 15th SOS, and the 550th SOS. The MC-130H has operated in several special operation missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, the Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. In this image, an MC-130H (serial number: 64-0476) Combat Talon II from the 15th SOS, stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida, takes off on a secret night mission.