AC/MC-130J

The AC/MC-130J Program under United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is focused on the procurement and modernization of AC-130J Ghostrider and MC-130J Commando II aircraft. These serve as advanced replacements for legacy AC-130U/H/W and MC-130E/P/H fleets. The primary goals of this program are to rapidly field and incrementally upgrade strike and survivability capabilities for Special Operations Forces (SOF), ensuring these aircraft remain effective in close air support, air interdiction, armed reconnaissance, clandestine infiltration/exfiltration, resupply, and air refueling missions in contested or politically sensitive environments. The program is jointly managed by the Air Force, which procures the basic C-130J aircraft and common support equipment, and USSOCOM, which integrates SOF-peculiar mission systems and specialized training devices.

Special Mission System (SMS) is a key line item that incrementally procures and integrates SOF-peculiar modifications onto AC/MC-130J aircraft. The SMS enables hosting of SOF mission software applications and consolidates technical data for systems interfacing with aircraft controls and displays. The objective is to automate and integrate aircrew responsibilities, reducing workload and enhancing mission effectiveness. The program includes procurement of SMS kits, installation labor, technical risk reduction, and support for both operational aircraft and training systems. Manufacturers such as Support Systems Associates, Inc. and Raytheon provide SMS kits and processors, with installations managed through both OEM and depot lines.

Electronic Warfare Radio Frequency Countermeasures (EW-RFCM) is another critical upgrade, designed to enhance aircraft survivability by identifying and geolocating threat positions, providing situational awareness, and implementing countermeasures to degrade or eliminate threats. This program includes engineering, manufacturing, low-rate and full-rate production, interim contractor support, depot activation, and technical data management. The EW-RFCM system is integrated into the AC/MC-130J fleet to address evolving electronic warfare threats and ensure SOF aircraft can operate in increasingly contested environments.

MC-130J Airborne Mission Networking (AbMN) focuses on integrating advanced radios, computers, network hardware, and software to provide a correlated common operating picture for air and ground battlespace. AbMN reduces aircrew workload and improves situational awareness, supporting USSOCOM's objective to connect with the Department of Defense's Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) construct. The program includes procurement of mission equipment, aircraft modifications, initial spares, technology refresh, and training system upgrades, with installations managed by Sierra Nevada Corporation.

C-130 SOF Common Terrain Following/Terrain Avoidance Silent Knight Radar (SKR) is a major capability acquisition aimed at providing low probability of intercept/detection radar capabilities to defeat advanced passive detection threats while maintaining safe flight. The SKR addresses obsolescence in legacy radar systems and supports MC-130J modifications to the Combat Talon III configuration. Raytheon is the primary manufacturer, and the program benefits from multi-year procurement contracts to stabilize pricing and ensure consistent delivery of radar systems and associated training modifications.

Defensive System Upgrades (DSU) are intended to correct operational shortfalls in defensive systems such as the AAR-47, ALR-56M, and ALE-47 on AC/MC-130J aircraft and trainers. The DSU program removes these systems from the operational flight program and installs federated controls at the combat systems operator station, simplifying the employment of chaff and flare countermeasures. The program is in full-rate production, with installations managed by SOFSA, and includes modifications to both aircraft and weapon system trainers.

Additional aggregated items within the AC/MC-130J budget line include Mission Training Preparation Systems (MTPS), MC-130J Auxiliary Flight Deck Station kits, weight management and variable speed drogue hardware for tanker operations, low-cost modifications to improve reliability and safety, and Simulator Block Upgrades (SBUD) to modernize training devices. These efforts collectively support the recapitalization of the retired C-130 fleet, enhance joint and coalition interoperability, and ensure SOF aircrews are equipped with the latest technology for mission success. The objective is to field more lethal, resilient, survivable, agile, and responsive SOF aircraft, aligned with the evolving operational environment and strategic requirements.