LC130LOAD1 Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 U.S. Marine Corps plans to convert KC-130J tankers into gunships By Stephen Trimble Flight International 02/04/09 The U.S. Marine Corps has decided to convert some Lockheed Martin KC-130J tankers into combination surveillance platforms and gunships. The renamed KC-130J "Harvest Hawk" would retain the wing-mounted refuelling pods and tanker mission, but add a new targeting sensor and a 30mm cannon, the USMC says. Marine commanders have issued an urgent request for the Harvest Hawk capability, believing that the KC-130J could be used as more than simply a refuelling system for helicopters and tiltrotors. "If we can get more utility out of the tanker platform –– then why not," the service says. U.S. Naval Air Systems Command is working with several suppliers to implement the Harvest Hawk platform. The electro-optical targeting sensor is a pending choice between Lockheed's Target Sight System (TSS) already installed on the Bell Helicopter AH-1Z attack helicopter or the L-3 Wescam MX-15. The TSS has already been selected for installation on some Lockheed AC-130 gunships operated by U.S. Special Operations Command. The precise number of Harvest Hawk platforms to be prepared and the timeline for deliveries was not immediately available. When it is deployed, the Harvest Hawk will join a growing mix of manned aircraft being converted into multi-role surveillance and strike platforms. The Defense Intelligence Agency, for example, now operates C-130s called Shadow Harvest, which are equipped with a BAE Systems hyperspectral imaging sensor. The U.S. Air Force is converting more than 30 Beechcraft C-12 Hurons into a new manned surveillance fleet called MC-12 Libertys. The U.S. Army started the trend in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2006 by converting some Shorts C-23B Sherpas into surveillance platforms called Constant Hawks. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/04/02/324708/us-marine-corps-plans-to-convert-kc-130j-tankers-into.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hlg6016 Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 I like that idea, It gives a whole new meaning to the term Battle-Herk! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdaley Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 the above article talks about Shadow Harvest? What is that about? Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loadsmith Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 This may help explain Shadow Harvest a little, I have personally never heard of it until that article. check out page 72. http://www.1af.acc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070808-022.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdaley Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 I googled it yesterday and found that it was part of the global war on terror and part of the Air National Guard budget but that was all I found. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC130FE Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 This program has a long, long way to go.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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