Special Forces Aviation Capability Gap?

07.05.2013

The Sun newspaper is up in arms^[1] over plans to scrap C-130K cargo planes that support special operations.

The ageing fleet of C-130 (C1, C3) Hercules aircraft, operated by the Royal Air Force's 47 Squadron are due to be retired in October this year^[2]. According to the Sun, the Special Air Service and Special Boat Service will be without the dedicated and specialized support provided by the current fleet until new aircraft, in the form of the Airbus A400M Atlas, come into service in 2015.

It should be noted that 47 Squadron also operates a number of C-130J (C4 and C5 variants) aircraft that can support UKSF operations until the A400M becomes available. While this should mean that the Special Air Service will still be able to live up to 'Air' part of their name, losing the modified C-130Ks may still cause a capability gap.

The C-130Js, for example, currently lack the more advanced avionics found on the modified 47 Squadron C1 and C3 airframes. For instance, the C4 and C5s do not have an equivalent to the Enhanced Vision System (EVS) fitted to some of the squadron's C-130K aircraft. The infrared and low-light sensors of the EVS enable aircraft to better operate in darkness and in poor weather. Special operations also require advanced countermeasures and secure communications fitments.

It has in recent years been proposed that special forces C-130Js undergo the international Block Upgrade 7.0 programme ^[3] in order to make them fully capable of performing the special operations role. These upgrades include:

• Communication, Navigation & Identification (CNI) upgrades
• Dual Multi-Mode Receivers (MMR) with TSO C-129A Civil Global Positioning System (GPS)
• CNI Special Processor upgrade
• Tactical Datalink (TDL)
• Mission Computer (MC) upgrades

The Block 7 upgrades were planned to go ahead in 2011 but are now not expected to be completed until after 2013. ^[4]

An initiative entitled 'Project Hermes' was also planned, which would have installed the specialized kit, including new radar warning receivers and secure communications, into the special forces C-130Js but it does not appear that this project has been completed.

These delays in producing special operations-capable C-130Js has already led to 47 Sqn extending its use of its C-130Ks beyond their initial planned retirement date of 2012. If the special forces C-130Ks do go in October, then the RAF will not have any fully-capable fixed-wing special operations transport aircraft in service until either the C-130Js can be fully upgraded or the A400Ms come into service and are themselves suitably modified.

A Royal Air Force C-130K touches down on a Devon beach during a training operation. C-130s of 47 Squadron Special Forces Flight have supported UKSF operations for decades. The squadron's fleet of C-130Ks are modified with extra fuel tanks and sophisticated communications, sensors and defensive countermeasures.

MOD photo by Becky Paget | © Crown copyright 2006 | used under open government licence

A C-130J (C5) aircraft operated by 47 Squadron RAF. The C-130J is used for tactical operations, parachute insertions and air dispatch of cargo. It can support high-altitude operations such as HALO and HAHO parachute jumps of the sort used by UKSF. At least one of the 2 47 Squadon Hercules aircraft that rescued 150 British oil workers from Libyan oil facilities in late Febuary 2011 was a C-130J (ZH888). Photos taken of freed workers walking off the aircraft in Malta showed that ZH888 had been fitted with the AN/AAQ-24(V) Nemesis countermeasures package.

MOD photo by Richard Ellis | © Crown copyright 2006 | used under open government licence

An Airbus A400M pictured in flight at the Farnborough Air Show, 2010. There have been reports that the A400M may be a bit on the large side for the special forces role. For instance, concerns over its ability to operate on austere landing strips have been raised. ^[5] Leaks in the press about the Director Special Forces (DSF) being unhappy with the aircraft seem to indicate that UKSF would prefer to keep the smaller C-130Js around instead.

MOD photo by Harland Quarrington | © Crown copyright 2010 | used under open government licence

more info / further reading:

• 1. Who dares walks
  (the sun)
  
  
• 2. UK MoD reviews retirement plans for RAF transports, tankers
  (flight global)
  
  
• 3. Hercules C-130 Tactical Fixed Wing Airlift Capability - page 29
  (MOD Report - google books)
  
  
• 4. The Airbus A400M Atlas - Part 1
  (Think Defence)
  
  
• 5. SAS fight to keep Hercules planes
  (Daily Express)
  
  

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