02 MC-130E BLACKBIRD
As the “Thin Slice” aircraft were being developed, 14 C-130Es were purchased for SOG in 1965 for similar modifications. The first aircraft were production C-130Es from 1964 without specialized equipment and produced at Lockheed’s facility in Marietta, Georgia. Three production aircraft per month were fitted with the Fulton STARS (then ARS) system. While awaiting the ARS equipment, the C-130s were ferried to Greenville, Texas, for painting by Ling-Temco-Vought Electrosystems with a low-radar reflective paint that added 168 kg (370 lbs) weight. The velvet black and green scheme drew the nickname “Blackbird.” As the installation was completed, the Blackbirds were returned to Ontario to install the electronics package, code-named “Rivet Clamp.” These modified aircraft became known as “Clamps,” and collectively redesignated “Combat Talon” in 1967.
In this image, a C-130E “Blackbird” (serial number: 64-0551) sits on the apron at Hurlburt Field at Eglin AFB in Florida. The Rivet Clamps, originally designated C-130E(I)sp, were equipped with an electronic and infrared (IR) countermeasures suite and the SPR2 multimode radar was later upgraded to the AN/APQ-115 TF/TA unit. The radar was adapted from the Texas Instruments AN/APQ-99 radar used in the RF-4C Phantom photo reconnaissance aircraft, featuring terrain following/terrain avoidance (TF/TA) and mapping radar modes to enable it to operate at low altitudes at night and in all weather conditions. The radar also helped the “Clamps” to avoid known enemy radar and anti-aircraft weapons concentrations.
Beginning in 1970, Texas Instruments and Lockheed Air Service worked to adapt the existing AN/APQ-122 Adverse Weather Aerial Delivery System (AWADS) with terrain following/terrain avoidance modes to replace the original APQ-115, which suffered throughout its life with an unacceptably adverse mean-time-between-failure (MTBF) rate. In 1970, they succeeded, coupling the APQ-122 with the Litton LN-15J Inertial Navigation System (INS). Known as MOD-70, the modified radar was installed in all 12 operational Combat Talons and the four “Heavy Chain” test beds between 1971 and 1973. The system proved so successful that it continued in service until the late 1980s. Following the completion of MOD-70, the Combat Talons were divided into three designations: C-130E(CT) for the “Clamp” aircraft, C-130E(Y) for the “Yank” (formerly “Yard”) Talons, and C-130E(S) for the “Swap.” These various designations and aircraft were consolidated in 1977 as the MC-130E Combat Talon. The Combat Talon became the Combat Talon I in 1984 with the authorization to modify 24 C-130Hs to Combat Talon II specifications.
02 MC-130E BLACKBIRD
As the “Thin Slice” aircraft were being developed, 14 C-130Es were purchased for SOG in 1965 for similar modifications. The first aircraft were production C-130Es from 1964 without specialized equipment and produced at Lockheed’s facility in Marietta, Georgia. Three production aircraft per month were fitted with the Fulton STARS (then ARS) system. While awaiting the ARS equipment, the C-130s were ferried to Greenville, Texas, for painting by Ling-Temco-Vought Electrosystems with a low-radar reflective paint that added 168 kg (370 lbs) weight. The velvet black and green scheme drew the nickname “Blackbird.” As the installation was completed, the Blackbirds were returned to Ontario to install the electronics package, code-named “Rivet Clamp.” These modified aircraft became known as “Clamps,” and collectively redesignated “Combat Talon” in 1967.
In this image, a C-130E “Blackbird” (serial number: 64-0551) sits on the apron at Hurlburt Field at Eglin AFB in Florida. The Rivet Clamps, originally designated C-130E(I)sp, were equipped with an electronic and infrared (IR) countermeasures suite and the SPR2 multimode radar was later upgraded to the AN/APQ-115 TF/TA unit. The radar was adapted from the Texas Instruments AN/APQ-99 radar used in the RF-4C Phantom photo reconnaissance aircraft, featuring terrain following/terrain avoidance (TF/TA) and mapping radar modes to enable it to operate at low altitudes at night and in all weather conditions. The radar also helped the “Clamps” to avoid known enemy radar and anti-aircraft weapons concentrations.
Beginning in 1970, Texas Instruments and Lockheed Air Service worked to adapt the existing AN/APQ-122 Adverse Weather Aerial Delivery System (AWADS) with terrain following/terrain avoidance modes to replace the original APQ-115, which suffered throughout its life with an unacceptably adverse mean-time-between-failure (MTBF) rate. In 1970, they succeeded, coupling the APQ-122 with the Litton LN-15J Inertial Navigation System (INS). Known as MOD-70, the modified radar was installed in all 12 operational Combat Talons and the four “Heavy Chain” test beds between 1971 and 1973. The system proved so successful that it continued in service until the late 1980s. Following the completion of MOD-70, the Combat Talons were divided into three designations: C-130E(CT) for the “Clamp” aircraft, C-130E(Y) for the “Yank” (formerly “Yard”) Talons, and C-130E(S) for the “Swap.” These various designations and aircraft were consolidated in 1977 as the MC-130E Combat Talon. The Combat Talon became the Combat Talon I in 1984 with the authorization to modify 24 C-130Hs to Combat Talon II specifications.