EC-130H Compass Call

Infobox Aircraft
name= EC-130H Compass Call


caption= An EC-130H Compass Call flies a training mission over Lake Mead, Arizona.
type= Electronic Warfare (EW), Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), offensive counter-information
manufacturer= Lockheed (airframe)
BAE Systems (prime mission equipment)
L3 Communications (aircraft integration and depot maintenance)
designer=
first flight=
introduced= April 1982
retired=
status=
primary user= United States Air Force
more users=
produced=
number built= 14 (USAF)
unit cost= $65 million
variants with their own articles=

The EC-130H Compass Call is an airborne tactical weapon system using a heavily modified version of the C-130 Hercules airframe. The system disrupts enemy command and control communications and limits adversary coordination essential for enemy force management. The Compass Call system employs the offensive counterinformation and electronic attack capabilities in support of U.S. and Coalition tactical air, surface, and special operations forces. Programmed upgrades will expand its mission by procuring a secondary Electronic Attack (EA) capability against early warning and acquisition radars.

Airborne electronic warfare consists of three major 'players' forming a triad of capability: the EC-130H Compass Call, the EA-6B Prowler, and the F-16CJ Fighting Falcon suppress enemy air defenses while jamming communications, radar and command and control targets. Compass Call is in demand with all unified commands, and therefore, subject to worldwide deployment in support of operations on very short notice.

Development

The EC-130H fleet is composed of a mix of Block 30 and state-of-the-art Block 35 aircraft. All aircraft will transition to the Block 35 baseline configuration by fiscal 2011.

For Block 30 EC-130H, the upgrade achieved a major redesign of the mission compartment and operating system software of the Block 20 aircraft. Its primary focus was to provide a reprogrammable capability against target C2 systems.

For Block 35 EC-130H, the upgrade provides the Air Force with additional capabilities to jam communication, Early Warning/Acquisition radar and navigation systems through higher effective radiated power, extended frequency range and insertion of digital signal processing. The Block 35 will have the flexibility to keep pace with adversary use of technology. It is highly reconfigurable and permits incorporation of clip-ins with less crew impact. It promotes enhanced crew proficiency, maintenance and sustainment with a common fleet configuration, new operator interface, increased reliability and better fault detection.

Compass Call integrates into tactical air operations at any level. The versatile and flexible nature of the aircraft and its crew enable the power of electronic combat to be brought to bear in virtually any combat situation.

Design

Crew

The EC-130H aircraft carries a combat crew of 13 people. Four members are responsible for aircraft flight and navigation (Aircraft Commander, Co-Pilot, Navigator and Flight Engineer), while nine members operate and employ the EW mission equipment permanently integrated in the cargo/mission compartment. The mission crew includes the Mission Crew Commander (Electronic Warfare Officer), Weapon System Officer (Electronic Warfare Officer), Mission Crew Supervisor (an experienced Cryptologic Linguist), four Analysis Operators (linguists), one Acquisition Operator (Cryptologic Linguist) and an Airborne Maintenance Technician

Operational history

Compass Call has demonstrated a powerful effect on enemy command and control networks in multiple military operations including Kosovo, Haiti, Panama, Iraq, Serbia and Afghanistan.

Operators

United States Air Force
* Air Combat Command (Langley Air Force Base, Virginia)
** 55th Wing (Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska)
*** 55th Electronic Combat Group (Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona)
**** 41st Electronic Combat Squadron
**** 43d Electronic Combat Squadron

Specifications (EC-130H)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?= plane
jet or prop?= prop
ref={Air Force Link: EC-130H Compass Call} [cite web
url= http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=190
title= EC-130H Compass Call
last=
first=
date=
accessdate= 2006-01-15
work=
publisher= United States Air Force]
crew= 13
capacity=
length main= 97 ft, 9 in
length alt= 29.3 m
span main= 132 ft, 7 in
span alt= 39.7 m
height main= 38 ft, 3 in
height alt= 11.4 m
area main= ft²
area alt= m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= lb
empty weight alt= kg
loaded weight main= lb
loaded weight alt= kg
useful load main= lb
useful load alt= kg
max takeoff weight main= 155,000 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 69,750 kg
more general=
engine (prop)= Allison T56-A-15
type of prop= turboprop
number of props= 4
power main= 4591 hp
power alt= kW
power original=
max speed main= knots
max speed alt= mph, km/h
cruise speed main= knots
cruise speed alt= 300 mph, mach 0.52
never exceed speed main= knots
never exceed speed alt= mph, km/h
stall speed main= knots
stall speed alt= mph, km/h
range main= nm
range alt= mi, km
ceiling main= ft
ceiling alt= m
climb rate main= ft/min
climb rate alt= m/s
loading main= lb/ft²
loading alt= kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= hp/lb
power/mass alt= W/kg
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

References

External links

* [http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=190 Air Force Link: EC-130H Compass Call factsheet]
* [http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123030212 Air Force Link: Air Force news story (Compass Call continues to 'Jam' enemy)]
* [http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123025124 Air Force Link: Air Force news story ('Bats' shield Airmen from harm)]
* [http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123011849 Air Force Link: Air Force news story (Airpower supports Afghan elections)]
* [http://tech.military.com/equipment/view/89728/ec-130h-compass-call.html Military.com: EC-130H Compass Call]
* [http://www.aircraftguru.com/aircraft/aircraft-information.php?craftid=19 AircraftGuru.com: EC-130H Compass Call]

ee also

aircontent
related=
similar aircraft= C-130 Hercules
EC-130E Rivet Rider
EC-130J Commando Solo
MC-130H Combat Talon II
sequence=
lists=
see also=