lockheed c-130 hercules | ac-130u spooky
Gunship
17 in active service
Unit Cost: $210 million
A further development of the earlier AC-130H Spectre gunship, the AC-130U is designed for a close air support (CAS) role and comes equipped with 40mm and 105mm cannons, and a 25mm Gatling gun.
lockheed c-130 hercules | ac-130w stinger ii
Gunship
12 in active service
unit cost: $122 million
Another development of the AC-130 gunship family, the AC-130W Stinger II features a single 30mm GAU-23 cannon, along with the ability to drop standoff precision guided munitions and the GBU-39 small diameter bomb.
boeing 707-320 | e-3 sentry
airborne warning and control system (Awacs)
32 in active service
Unit cost: $270 million
The E-3 Sentry is designed as a command/control aircraft with battle management capabilities (C2BM) and the ability to detect and track enemy targets. The aircraft is used to control other aircraft in the area, such as strike and fighter aircraft, and direct them toward enemy targets. The aircraft is easily identifiable with a large, saucer-shaped radar dome mounted atop the fuselage.
boeing 747-200 | e-4b nightwatch
airborne operations center
4 in active service
unit cost: $223.2 million
Also known as the “Doomsday Plane”, the Nightwatch is meant to act as the national military command in the event of a national emergency or the destruction of existing command/control centers on the ground. The aircraft has the capability to survive the effects of an EMP blast and still issue nuclear launch orders to land, air, and sea forces. The identifying marker on this aircraft is a hump behind the upper floor seating area near the cockpit.
boeing 707-300 | e-8c joint stars (jstars)
airborne battle management
16 aircraft total
Unit cost: $244.4 million
JSTARS stands for Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System and is designed as an airborne battle management/command and control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft. It comes equipped with high-power radar systems, communications equipment, and other advanced electronic systems. The aircraft is identifiable by a 27-foot long canoe-shaped radome under the forward fuselage.
bombardier dhc-8 dash 8 | e-9a
airborne telemetry support
2 in active service
unit cost: $16.5 million
Exclusively based at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, the E-9A is used to scout the Gulf of Mexico prior to missile tests and then monitor the test itself to collect data. The aircraft is identifiable by a protruding hump along the right side of the fuselage along with another hump coming from under the body.
lockheed c-130 hercules | ec-130h compass call
electronic Warfare | sead | psyops
14 in active service
unit cost: $165 million
The EC-130H is used to disrupt enemy command/control signals as well as broadcast its own “offensive counter-information”, otherwise known as psyops missions. The aircraft also works in a Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) role to support other aircraft in disabling enemy air defenses.
lockheed c-130 hercules | ec-130j commando solo
military information support operations (miso) | psyops
3 in air national guard service
Unit cost: $110 million
The EC-130J is a platform for controlling and broadcasting on FM radio, television, and military communications bands. The aircraft is capable of interrupting national broadcast signals and replacing said signals with transmissions of its own.
lockheed c-130 hercules | hc-130j combat king ii
combat search and rescue
15 in active service
unit cost: $66 million
Designed to operate from extremely short and underdeveloped runways, the HC-130J is a combat search and rescue aircraft with additional humanitarian capabilities. The aircraft is also capable of air-to-air refueling of helicopters.
lockheed c-130 hercules | hc-130p/n combat king
combat search and rescue
13 in active service | 13 in guard service
unit cost: $77 million
Developed as an all-weather personnel recovery platform, the HC-130P/N is designed to operate in adverse weather to search for and rescue missing pilots.
beechcraft super king air 350er | mc-12w
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance
13 in guard service
unit cost: $17 million
The MC-12W was developed as a medium/low-altitude ISR aircraft with a mission to support ground forces. The aircraft is equipped with infrared sensors (among others) and contributes to Air Force Irregular Warfare missions.
lockheed c-130 hercules | mc-130h combat talon II
special operations
18 in active service
unit cost: $160 million
The MC-130H Combat Talon II is primarily used as a special forces infiltration/exfiltration platform with the ability to refuel helicopters and provide some psyops support. The MC-130H can be identified by several features: two different sets of two long pods under the wings, bulbous attachments near the landing gear, and an abnormal, abrupt nose.
lockheed c-130 hercules | mc-130j commando solo II
special operations
37 total in service
Unit Cost: $67 million
Like the MC-130H, the MC-130J acts as a special forces infiltration/exfiltration aircraft that can also refuel helicopters. It also contains a fully-populated Combat Systems Operator (CSO) with electronic warfare equipment designed to support special forces missions.
boeing c-135 | oc-135b open skies
open skies treaty support
2 in active service
unit cost: not available
The Open Skies treaty is a treaty that allows for unarmed overflight of certain military and civilian areas in Russia and the United States to ensure/verify adherence to international arms agreements, in particular with regard to nuclear weapons. The aircraft is equipped with high-powered cameras, with three cameras (KS-87E) used for low-altitude photography, and one KA-91C panoramic camera used for high-altitude photography.
boeing c-135 | rc-135s cobra ball
ballistic missile monitoring platform
3 in active service
unit cost: unavailable
The RC-135S is an aircraft operated by the order of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on issues of national priority. The platform is used to collect optical and electronic data on ballistic objects to ensure treaty compliance and to help develop US missile defense systems. The Cobra Ball aircraft can be identified by its elongated nose, bulbous cheeks, and right wing painted black or dark grey.
boeing c-135 | rc-135u combat sent
electronic intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance
2 in active service
unit cost: unavailable
The RC-135U is designed to intercept and examine enemy radar signals and other electronic emissions, which it then reports to senior military commanders (up to and including the president). The aircraft can be identified by distinctive antennae arrays on the chin and wing tips, bulbous cheeks, and extended tail.
boeing c-135 | rc-135v/w rivet joint
reconnaissance and intelligence
17 in active service
unit cost: unavailable
This aircraft provides on-scene, real-time intelligence collection and analysis capabilities. The crew totals around 30 personnel, and when fully activated the platform can intercept and analyze most forms of electronic communication.
pilatus pc-12 | u-28a
Reconnaissance, intelligence, and transport
28 in active service
Unit cost: $16.5 million
A modified PC-12 designed to transport special forces troops and provide intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance support. Comes equipped with advanced video and radio technology for monitoring tactical battlefield situations.
boeing 747-200b | vc-25 air force one
presidential transport aircraft
2 in active service
Unit cost: unavailable
Heavily-modified Boeing 747 designed as an airborne command and control post for the president and their staff. Comes equipped with advanced radio and electronic equipment and full amenities.
boeing c-135 | wc-135 constant phoenix
air sampling and collection aircraft
2 in active service
Unit cost: unavailable
Aircraft designed to monitor nuclear test ban treaties by collecting air samples to check for radioactive particles.
