iscover
Warning: Attempt to read property "name" on false in /data/www/upgrade/australianaviation.com.au/httpdocs/wp-content/plugins/momentummedia-article-gate/includes/class-momentummedia-article-gate.php on line 169
Warning: Undefined array key "image-size-770" in /data/www/upgrade/australianaviation.com.au/httpdocs/wp-content/themes/australianaviation/functions.php on line 1310
Warning: Trying to access array offset on null in /data/www/upgrade/australianaviation.com.au/httpdocs/wp-content/themes/australianaviation/functions.php on line 1310
The USAF’s fleet of new MC-12W Liberty ISR aircraft has logged its 1000th mission from Joint Base Balad in Iraq, just six months after entering service.
Thirty-seven MC-12Ws, sensor-equipped versions of the Beech King Air 350 and 350ER, were ordered for USAF service in November 2008, and Hawker Beechcraft was able to develop and deliver the aircraft under a rapid program. The first aircraft were deployed to Iraq in June this year with the USAF’s 362nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron (ERS) to provide ISR for ground forces deployed there.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
The MC-12W has a crew of two pilots and two sensor operators, and carries optical, infrared, signals and electronic intelligence (SIGINT/ELINT) sensors. The rest of the system includes a ground exploitation cell, line-of-sight and satellite (SATCOM) datalinks, and a voice communications suite.
“We can have a ground unit talk directly to a sensor operator who’s on board,” said Senior Airman Robert Laxton, 362nd ERS cryptologic operator in a USAF article recently. “From that sensor operator, we have imagery analysts on the ground who can send out products almost instantaneously – within five or 10 minutes – to ground users and ground supporters.”
As the MC-12W fleet is built up it is likely aircraft will be deployed to Afghanistan in 2010.
