EC-130E "Commando Solo"

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193d SPECIAL OPERATIONS WING
PENNSYLVANIA AIR NATIONAL GUARD

Command: Air National Guard

Fact Sheet

Mission: EC-130E Commando Solo, the Air Force's only airborne radio and television broadcast mission, is assigned to the 193rd Special Operations Wing, the only Air National Guard unit assigned to the Air Force Special Operations Command. Commando Solo conducts psychological operations and civil affairs broadcasts. The EC-130E flies during either day or night scenarios and is air refuelable. Commando Solo provides an airborne broadcast platform for virtually any contingency, including state or national disasters or other emergencies. Secondary missions include command and control communications countermeasures and limited intelligence gathering. Special equipment/features: Highly specialized modifications include enhanced navigation systems, self-protection equipment, and the capability to broadcast color television on a multitude of worldwide standards.

Commando Solo, the Air Force's only airborne radio and television broadcast mission, is assigned to the 193d Special Operations Wing at Harrisburg International Airport, in Middletown, Pa. Commando Solo conducts psychological operations and civil affairs broadcast missions in the standard AM, FM, HF, TV, and military communications bands. Missions are flown at the maximum altitudes possible to ensure optimum propagation patterns. The EC-130 flies either day or night scenarios with equal success, and is air refuelable. A typical mission consists of a single-ship orbit which is offset from the desired target audience. The targets may be either military or civilian personnel. Secondary missions include command and control communications countermeasures (C3CM) and limited intelligence gathering.

The World Wide Color TV EC-130E, aka Commando Solo, is operated by the 193rd Special Operations Wing (PaANG). It's the Air Force's only asset for providing airborne psychological broadcast missions in the standard AM, FM, HF, TV and military communications bands. Missions are flown at maximum altitudes possible to ensure optimum propagation patterns.

Highly specialized modifications have been made to the latest version of the EC-130E Included in these modifications are enhanced navigation systems, self-protection equipment, and the capability of broadcasting color television on a multitude of worldwide standards throughout the TV VHF/UHF ranges. The program is managed by Detachment 4, 645th Material Squadron.

Modified by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California, it is the platform for many contingencies, including state/national disasters, counter-insurgence and humanitarian support, on a moment's notice, anywhere in the world.

LOCKHEED DELIVERS FIRST OF NEW SPECIAL OPERATIONS AIRCRAFT 
MARIETTA, Ga. - Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems delivered the first of three EC-130J Command Solo psychological-operations aircraft yesterday, and it is working on two others on order. The aircraft will be assigned to the Air National Guard's 193rd Special Operations Wing located at Harrisburg IAP, Pennsylvania. The new version will replace earlier model EC-130Es currently operated by the 193rd.  As part of the Air Force's Special Operations Command, the 193rd is to perform what are known as psychological missions. The specially-configured EC-130J aircraft can broadcast transmissions using all commercial AM and FM radio bands, VHF and UHF television bands, and the military's VHF, HF, and FM frequencies. Broadcasts from the aircraft are conducted in areas of military or political unrest to inform or influence both military and civilian personnel in the area. This latest delivery of a C-130J variant illustrates the versatility and flexibility of what is the world's most advanced tactical airlifter. The four-engined Hercules serves in a wide variety of roles, including hurricane hunting and air-to-air refueling. 
Source: Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems
Source Date: 10/18/1999 

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