MC-130P Combat Shadow/HC-130
        Brief: Aircraft that flies clandestine or low-visibility,
 low-level missions into denied areas to provide air
 refueling for special operations helicopters or to air-
 drop small special operations teams, small bundles,
 and zodiac and combat rubber raiding craft.
 Function:       Air refueling for SOF helicopters/airdrop.
 Operator:       AFSOC, AETC, ANG, AFRO.
        First Flight: Dec. 8,1964 (as HC-130H(.
        Delivered: from 1965.
        IOC:
        Production: not available
        Inventory 57
        Ceiling: 33,000 ft
        Unit Location Active: Eglin AFB, Fla., Kadena AB, Japan, RAF
 Mildenhall UK, Kirtland AFB, N.M., Moody AFB, Ga Patrick AFB Fla.
 ANG: Francis S. Gabreski lAP, N.Y., Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif.
 AFRC: Duke Field, Fla.,  Portland lAP, Ore.
        Contractor: Lockheed.
        Power Plant: 4 Allison T56-A-1 5 turboprops; each 4,910 shp.
        Accommodation: four flight crew, plus four mission crew.
        Dimensions: span 132 ft 7 in, length 98 ft 9 in, height 38 ft 6 in.
        Weight: gross 155,000 lb.
        Performance: speed 289 mph, range more than 4,000 miles.
        COMMENTARY
        Since initial introduction Combat Shadow aircraft have served
 a wide range of roles and missions. They are currently dedicated to
 special operations missions, conducting single-ship or formation in-
 flight refueling of SOF helicopters in a low-threat to selected
 medium-threat environment. In 1990, during Operation Desert Storm,
 they provided air refueling of SOF helicopters over friendly and hos-
 tile territory as well as psychological operations and leaflet drops.
         MC-130P. Active duty forces have 28 MG-130P (formerly
 HC-13ON/P) in service. All are modified with new secure communica-
 tions, self-contained inertial navigation, and countermeaaures
 syatems, and NVG-compatible lighting. NVG low-level flights use
 minimal lighting and communications-out procedures. Additional
 modifications include advanced integrated navigation equipment,
 including digital scan radar, ring-laser gyro INS, FLIR, GPS, and
 dual nav stations, aa well as new missile warning syatems and
 countermeasurea for refueling missions in hostile environments.
 Fifteen have been fitted with an in-flight refueling receptacle to
 extend their range indefinitely.
         HC-130. Nine of these 130 tankers serving with active, ANG,
 and AFRC search-and-reacue units still retain the HG-130 deaignation.
 Four were modified to JC-130H for aerial recovery of re-entering
 spacecraft.
 AIR FORCE Magazine/May 1998 \
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