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Military reconnaissance aircraft mainly used in the U.S. Air Force
The Lockheed RC-130 Hercules are retired variants of the
C-130 Hercules , designed for photographic or electronic reconnaissance missions.
[1]
Operational history
A replica of 56-0528, a C-130A-II "Sun Valley" reconnaissance aircraft shot down over Armenia, Soviet Union, in 1958, on display at the
National Cryptologic Museum , Fort Meade, Maryland
On 2 September 1958, C-130A-II 56-0528 was
shot down after it intruded into Soviet airspace during a reconnaissance mission along the Turkish-
Armenian border.
[2]
Variants
C-130A-II
Electronics reconnaissance variant for use by
7407th Combat Support Wing , ten conversions from C-130A.
[1]
RC-130A
Photo reconnaissance variant, one converted from a TC-130A and 15 built new.
[1]
C-130B-II
Electronic reconnaissance variant, 15 converted from C-130B later designated RC-130B.
[1]
RC-130B
Re-designated from C-130B-II, all later converted back to C-130Bs.
[1]
RC-130S
Two JC-130A aircraft were modified with the
Battlefield Illumination Airborne System (BIAS) for night search-and rescue missions with the
446th Tactical Airlift Wing .
[1]
[3]
Operators
United States
See also
Related development
Related lists
[4]
References
Bibliography
Francillon, René. Lockheed Aircraft since 1913 . London: Putnam, 1982.
ISBN
0-370-30329-6 .
Basic versions Modified variants Civil variants Related lists
Transports
Vega family Electra family Constellation family L-100 Hercules family L-188 Electra family Other types
Fighter-bombers
Lightning family Shooting Star family Starfighter family Raptor family Other types
Reconnaissance
Blackbird family Maritime patrol Other crewed UAVs
Trainers Helicopters Experimental Light aircraft Missiles Engines
Model numbers
1 Not assigned
Army/Air Force sequence(1925-1962) Tri-service sequence(1962-present) Revived original sequence(2005-present) Non-sequential designations Related designations 1 Not assigned • 2 Assigned to multiple types • 3 Unconfirmed
100–199 200–299 300–399 400–499 500–599
500
501–519 1
520
521–529 1
530
531–541 1
542
543–549 1
550
551–559 1
560
561–569 1
570
571–579 1
580
581–589 1
590
591
592
593–599 1
600–699 700–799 800–899
800 1
801 1
802
803 1
804 1
805 1
806
807
808–816 1
817
818 1
819 1
820 1
821 1
822 1
823
824–831 1
832
833 1
834
835–845 1
846
847–899 1
900–999 1 Unknown or not assigned