was developed specifically for the
reserves with 28 produced. Five
KC-130Ts, including two stretched
KC-130T-30 variants, have been
reassigned to US Navy fleet logistics
support squadrons and seven have
been transferred to test duties.
The KC-130J program of record
includes 79 aircraft and 53 were
in service at the end of 2017,
including two operated by VX-20
that supported testing at NAS
Patuxent River, Maryland. Funding
was provided for two aircraft in FY
2017 and six in FY 2018. Marine
reserve squadron VMGR-234 began
its transition from the KC-130T
to the KC-130J in March 2014
and achieved initial operational
capability with five aircraft in late
FY 2015. By December 2017, the
squadron had received seven
of its planned complement of
12 KC-130Js. VMGR-452, which
currently operates 11 KC-130Ts, will
begin its transition to the KC-130J in
early FY 2019. KC-130T operationswill continue until the squadron
achieves IOC with the J-model in
FY 2020. The reserve squadrons will
respectively achieve full operational
capability in FY 2024 and 2026.
The assignment of 15 KC-130Js
allows the three active-duty
squadrons to field a 12-aircraft core
squadron and a deployed three-
aircraft detachment.
Recent upgrades provided
the KC-130Ts with an electronic
propeller control system (EPCS),
engine instrument display system
(EIDS) and TACAN and radar system
improvements. The KC-130J fleet
will be updated to the latest
Block 7.0/8.1 configuration and
operational testing will begin in FY
2019 with fleet upgrades following
in 2020. In addition to system
safety improvements and a new
flight management system, CNS/
ATM modifications will provide the
aircraft with Link-16, Mode 5 IFF,
GPS approach capability, ADS-B
Out, and RNP/RNAV. Installationof the AN/AAR-24(v)25 version
of the large aircraft infra-red
countermeasures (LAIRCM) system
is under way and the aircraft will
be made compatible with the AN/
ALQ-231 Intrepid Tiger II, testing of
which will begin in FY 2018.
The removable Harvest HAWK
(Hercules Airborne Weapons
Kit) system allows the KC-130J
to operate in the close air
support and overwatch roles.
Ten such aircraft were evenly
divided between VMGR-252
and VMGR-352. Harvest HAWK
provides the KC-130J with an
AN/AAQ-30 target sight sensor
(TSS) installed in the aft end of an
empty external fuel tank and a
roll-on/roll-off fire control console(FCC) with two stations. The TSS
installation reduces the aircraft’s
total fuel capacity to around
42,000lb (19,051kg). Although
the AAR capability is retained
using the aircraft’s starboard ARP,
the port-side pod is displaced
by a weapons pylon and an
M299 launcher that allow the
aircraft to carry four laser-guided
AGM-114P2 Hellfire II missiles.
Additionally, the Raytheon
AGM-175 Griffin and MBDA
GBU-44/B Viper Strike stand-off
precision-guided munitions
(SOPGM) can be deployed from a
launcher installed on a modified
paratroop door known as the
Derringer Door. Upgrades to the
fire-control system and sensors
will see the TSS replaced by the
MX-20 EO/IR sensor that will be
relocated under the radome. The
FCC will be replaced by a mission
operator pallet (MOP). Weapons
improvements are adding the
latest AGM-114P4 missile and
the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile
(JAGM) will be integrated in FY- The incorporation of a new
weapons pylon and outer wing
station will restore the aircraft’s
capability to carry both ARPs while
to simultaneously equipped with
the Harvest HAWK system.
Squadron Location Aircraft Command Tail code
VMGR-152 ‘The Sumos’MCAS Iwakuni, Japan KC-130J MAG-12 QD
VMGR-234 ‘Rangers’ NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas KC-130J MAG-41 QH
VMGR-252 ‘Otis’ MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina KC-130J MAG-14 BH
VMGR-352 ‘Raiders’ MCAS Miramar, California KC-130J MAG-11 QB
VMGR-452 ‘Yankees’ Stewart ANGB, New York^ KC-130T MAG-49 NYSquadron Location Aircraft Command Tail code
VMFT-401 ‘Snipers’ MCAS Yuma, Arizona F-5F/N MAG-41 LSF-5N/F Tiger II
Assigned to the Marine Corps
Reserve, marine fighter training
squadron VMFT-401 operates 11
single-seat Northrop F-5Ns and
a single example of the two-seatF-5F in the adversary training
role at MCAS Yuma. Both variants
of the Tiger II are powered by
two General Electric J85-GE-21C
afterburning turbojets.The squadron is a component
of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing’s
MAG-49 and is based at MCAS
Yuma. Due to the limitations
of the small fleet the USMC is
considering options for expanding
its adversary capabilities to
support F-35 fielding. VMFT-401
can fly 3,300 sorties annually, but
by 2022 F-35 training will require
as many as 8,300 sorties. As a
result the service is looking at
options that range from providing
contracted adversary support with
fourth-generation fighters to theacquisition of additional F-5-series
aircraft. In the interim the marines
are considering the establishment
of a VMFT-401 detachment at
MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina to
support F-35 training.
The current fleet of F-5Ns was
acquired from Switzerland and
upgraded by Northrop Grumman.
Structural upgrades that will
extend their service life to 9,000
hours will allow some examples
to remain in service until
2025-28, though divesture will
begin in 2026.KC-130Js of VMGR-352 ‘Raiders’ from
MCAS Miramar. USMC/LCpl Clare J. McIntireAn F-5N of VMFT-401 ‘Snipers’ at MCAS Yuma. Jamie HunterUS NAVY & MARINE CORPS AIR POWER YEARBOOK 2018
(^90) AIR POWER REVIEW
86-99 Marine Tables C.indd 90 01/06/2018 14:05