Air Force

Navigation upgrade

Since it became operational, the EC-130H Compass Call has demonstrated its electronic combat power in tactical air operations around the world, and this year the aircraft has achieved another first. The aircraft has received an Avionic Viability Program (AVP) upgrade to make it more effective in combat and while maintaining compliance with federal and international aviation regulations.

Airmen from the 42nd Electronic Combat Squadron perform preflight checks in an EC-130H Compass Call before executing its first training mission with an upgraded cockpit acquired via an avionic viability program at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, July 11, 2016. The 42nd ECS’s Compass Calls were the first to be upgraded in an Air Force-wide plan to update its entire fleet of EC-130s with the AVP (Courtesy photo)
Airmen from the 42nd Electronic Combat Squadron perform preflight checks in an EC-130H Compass Call before executing its first training mission with an upgraded cockpit acquired via an avionic viability program at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, July 11, 2016. The 42nd ECS’s Compass Calls were the first to be upgraded in an Air Force-wide plan to update its entire fleet of EC-130s with the AVP (Courtesy photo)

«This program has been in the works for almost three years at a cost of about $45 million», said Major Gerardo Sanchez, the 42nd Electronic Combat Squadron assistant director of operations. «Currently, we have two aircraft here at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB) with the 55th Electronic Combat Group (ECG), and we have two more scheduled for delivery».

The upgrade revitalizes the cockpit with liquid crystal displays that consolidate vital flight information. «With the new upgrades, we can grab the information with the push of a button», Sanchez said. «It increases the pilot’s situational awareness tenfold».

The entire EC-130 Compass Call fleet is expected to become upgraded via the AVP.

«With this new AVP modernization program of the EC-130 fleet, we are more capable with precision navigation», Sanchez said. «With the new radar upgrades, the EC-130H has improved navigation performance in order to sharpen tactics, techniques and procedures for precision electronic attack».

The 55th ECG has set up a training plan led by approximately 20 members who have been trained as cadre to familiarize personnel with the new system. AVP training for all flight deck personnel is projected to be completed in March 2017.

An EC-130H Compass Call prepares to take off to execute the first training mission with an upgraded cockpit acquired via the avionic viability program at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, July 11, 2016. Since it became operational in 1983, the EC-130H has demonstrated its electronic combat power in tactical air operations around the world (Courtesy photo)
An EC-130H Compass Call prepares to take off to execute the first training mission with an upgraded cockpit acquired via the avionic viability program at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, July 11, 2016. Since it became operational in 1983, the EC-130H has demonstrated its electronic combat power in tactical air operations around the world (Courtesy photo)

 

General Characteristics

Primary function electronic warfare, suppression of enemy air defenses and offensive counter information
Contractors BAE Systems (prime mission equipment), and L3 Communications (aircraft integration and depot maintenance)
Power plant four Allison T56-A-15 turboprops
Thrust 4,910 prop shaft horsepower
Wingspan 132 feet, 7 inches/39.7 m
Length 97 feet, 9 inches/29.3 m
Height 38 feet, 3 inches/11.4 meters
Weight Block 1 – 107,000 pounds/48,534 kg
Block 2 – 103,000 pounds/46,720 kg
Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) 155,000 pounds/69,750 kg
Fuel capacity 62,000 pounds/28,182 kg
Speed at 20,000 feet/6,060 m 261 knots/300 mph/Mach 0.52/483 km/h
Range 1,994 NM/2,295 miles/3,694 km
Ceiling 25,000 feet/7,600 m
Armament non-kinetic energy waveforms
Crew 13 (two pilots, navigator, flight engineer, two electronic warfare officers, mission crew supervisor, four cryptologic linguists, acquisition operator and an airborne maintenance technician)
Unit Cost $165 million
Initial Operating Capability (IOC) 1983
Inventory: active force 14

After 30 plus years in service, the EC-130’s Avionics system is getting a major helping hand