C-130 News: Arkansas Air Guard Wing Tapped for Test Mission

[casey]

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (News Release) - The Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189^th Airlift Wing has been tapped to be a major player in the development of a high-accuracy air drop and reconnaissance system, sending aircraft and aircrews to an Arizona test center.

Two Arkansas C-130 H aircraft, two aircrews and 14 maintainers from the 189^th Airlift Wing are part of the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center (AATC)’ s LITENING POD program, which aims to adapt existing targeting technology to eventually provide incredible high altitude air drop accuracy.  The Arkansas Air National Guard aircraft and personnel are at the Tucson Air National Guard base for approximately six months in 30 day rotations, which began in late January.

“The 189^th is providing two aircraft that are unique to the C-130 H fleet because they were previously modified to carry external pylons,” explained Lt. Col. Matt Baugher, the AATC’s C-130 program manager.  “This saved the program about $1 to 1.5 million.

“The 189^th is also providing some of the best, most highly-qualified aircrew and maintainers in the C-130 community to fly and maintain the aircraft while they are in test,” said Baugher.

“The 189^th people will primarily be executing flight test, and flying missions with AATC flight test engineers.  This includes airdrop, assault landings, and low-level and high-level formation operations,” explained Baugher.'

At the center of the program is the Northrup Grumman LITENING targeting and sensor system, a futuristic-looking torpedo-like pod usually deployed on combat aircraft for precision guided munitions.  The pod is mounted externally and is a multi-sensor targeting and surveillance system that includes a cockpit mounted interface that looks like something out of a Star Wars movie.

“For now, we are evaluating its use as a tool to aid in drop zone identification, geo-coordinate generation and confirmation, and to track dropped bundles,” said Baugher.  “In the future, we will add a wind-sensing laser to the LITENING pod which will be the largest step to prove high altitude drop accuracy.

“The Arkansas crews will be assisting in the development and writing of new tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) that will make effective use of the LITENING pod and data link upgrades,” explained Baugher.  “They will be flying test sorties right alongside aircrews from the AFRC’s 440^th Airlift Wing, the Georgia Air National Guard’s 165^th Airlift Wing and the Nevada Air National Guard’s 152^nd Airlift Wing.”

According to Baugher, the 189^th stepped up to the plate alongside of the 179^th Airlift Wing from Mansfield, Ohio.  “The 179^th also contributed an aircraft and aircrews to the test effort, but that aircraft is being readied for deployment and unavailable for further testing,” said Baugher.

“I’m very much into supporting the AATC mission,” said Maj. Gen. Mark H. Berry, the adjutant general of Arkansas.  “The people at AATC can do great things, especially with help from the field.  We’re excited to be a part of this important program.”

According to Col. Joe Wilson, vice commander of the 189^th Airlift Wing, the LITENING pod program is part of an on-going modernization effort for the Air National Guard’s legacy C-130 aircraft.  “Not only can it work for accurate air drops, it can be used for state missions when there are natural disasters or state emergencies,” said Wilson.

“This goes to our future viability and growth, and to our important domestic operations mission,” explained Wilson.  “The pod will be able to provide real-time data link and imagery to our Military Emergency Operations Center (MEOC).   A LITENING pod equipped C-130 can loiter over the site of a natural disaster and provide critical information to responders in the area.”

According to Wilson, the 189^th is slated to have two operational LITENING pod systems by early 2017.

“By volunteering for this mission the 189^th is leading the way for the legacy C-130 community,” said Baugher.  “Our aircraft must be upgraded to remain relevant and capable.  With the leadership demonstrated by the 189^th, we’ll be able to modernize our fleet, remain viable into the future and provide new capabilities never before thought possible in the C-130 community.”

Source: http://www.arkansasmatters.com/news/local-news/arkansas-air-guard-wing-tapped-for-test-mission

 

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[Metalbasher]

So not all Hs were configured to carry pylons on the outboard wing stations?  I thought they had the capability (hard points installed, wiring harnesses etc).

 

[Railrunner130]

I don't think so. I've noticed that the hard points appear to be there, but I don't think they all have wiring harnesses. We had an airplane that needed a doner outboard wing after the tornado. What was received was off of a KC-130 and it apparently had more hardware than what is installed on the standard slick. 

I just can't believe that it's nearly a $1.5 million job to install wiring and whatever hardpoint modifications need to be done. 

[FredG]

58 minutes ago, Railrunner130 said:

I just can't believe that it's nearly a $1.5 million job to install wiring and whatever hardpoint modifications need to be done. 

Railrunner, I believe the cost includes engineering (non-pylon tank airplanes), if you can believe that. In fact, I've heard of costs up to $10M and years of testing to be able to carry relatively light drones. A full 445 gal pylon tank will weigh more than 3,000 pounds (based on 6.8 lbs/gal). I wonder how much the LITENING pod weighs?

[MHeflin]

RR 130/Fred: It's a DOD R&D project therefore, you can't focus on how much it will cost to purchase the equipment, modify the aircraft and install; it's all about the maximum number of people that can put on the JON for the longest possible duration.

  

[Fritz Wester]

14 maintainers for two airplanes?  Good lord, it must be great to be Union!

[AMPTestFE]

These were some of the four Hs that had the ECM pod capability.

One of the 4 is the first AMP airplane.