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Lockheed MC-130 Combat Shadow Special Forces Inflight Refueling Aircraft (1986)

Authored By Staff Writer

The MC-130 Combat Shadow support special forces operatives primarily in a night time flying role.

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The MC-130 platform has served special forces operations since the Vietnam War and is based on the successful Lockheed C-130 cargo aircraft platform. The MC-130P Combat Shadow specifically serves as an inflight refueling vehicle for special operations helicopters and primarily operates at night. Twenty-three such aircraft serve in this active role with the United States Special Operations Command and an additional four are held in reserve with the Air National Guard. The MC-130P Combat Shadow continues to serve in an active capacity - albeit modified and modernized - despite the airframe's 1960's era initial design.

The Combat Shadow is powered by four Allison T56-A-15 turboprop engines with two mounted on each wing. The system is crewed by eight personnel and has a listed ceiling of 33,000 feet with a top speed of nearly 300 miles per hour. Range is listed as past 4,000 miles. The Combat Shadow was first deployed into active service in 1986 and has served in conflicts such as Panama, Desert Storm, Yugoslavia, Haiti, Bosnia, Liberia, Zaire, and more recently in Afghanistan and Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom).

The MC-130P is fitted with a myriad of systems that help the crew work in day/night operations and can detect and react to enemy ground weapons systems. Systems include a heads-up display, night vision, navigation and global positioning system, and forward-looking infrared for threat detection. As well as delivering fuel to friendly special operations aircraft of both the United States Army and Air Force, the MC-130P can itself receive inflight refueling from other tanker aircraft. Fourteen such MC-130P models are modified in this fashion.
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Specifications for the
Lockheed MC-130 Combat Shadow
Special Forces Inflight Refueling Aircraft


Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Lockheed - USA
Initial Year of Service: 1986
Production: 27


Focus Model: Lockheed MC-130P Combat Shadow
Crew: 8


Length: 98.72ft (30.09m)
Width: 132.55ft (40.40m)
Height: 38.39ft (11.70m)
Weight (Empty): 0lbs (0kg)
Weight (MTOW): 153,772lbs (69,750kg)


Powerplant: 4 x Allison T56-A-15 turboprop engines delivering 4,910 shp each.


Maximum Speed: 289mph (465kmh; 251kts)
Maximum Range: 4,000miles (6,437km)
Service Ceiling: 32,808ft (10,000m; 6.2miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 0 feet per minute (0m/min)


Hardpoints: 0
Armament Suite:
None.


Variants:
C-130 "Hercules" - Basic Transport Airframe


MC-130 - Special Forces Series Multi-Purpose Platform.

MC-130E - 1966-era Special Forces Insertion / Extraction / Supply Drop aircraft.

MC-130H - 1980-era "improved" MC-130E system; updated avionics; broadened role aircraft.

HC-130N/P - Initial MC-130P system designation; "H" designation is now relegated to rescue and recovery systems and not special operations role.

MC-130P - Special Operations Command tanker fleet designation.


Operators: the United States of America

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