MC-12

The MC-12 Program is a specialized budget line item managed by United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) under the Procurement, Defense-Wide appropriation, specifically within the Aviation Programs sub-activity. The primary objective of this program is to provide Theater Special Operations Forces (SOF) with a crewed fixed-wing platform for tactical Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (AISR), as well as targeting support. The MC-12W/Javaman aircraft are integral to the Military Intelligence Program (MIP), enabling SOF units to conduct real-time intelligence gathering and precision targeting in complex operational environments.

The goals of the MC-12 line item center on maintaining and modifying SOF-peculiar crewed ISR aircraft to meet evolving mission requirements. This includes funding for aircraft modifications that enhance sensor capabilities, communications, and survivability, as well as the procurement of associated training systems. The program does not include any Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) funding, indicating its focus is strictly on procurement and sustainment activities rather than new technology development.

For FY 2024, the MC-12 line item includes Overseas Operations Costs (OOC) to support the deployment and operational sustainment of these aircraft in forward locations. This funding ensures that SOF units have reliable access to AISR capabilities in support of ongoing overseas missions. The OOC component is essential for covering expenses related to logistics, maintenance, and mission execution in theaters of operation outside the continental United States.

In FY 2025, the budget requests OOC funding, reflecting a decrease from the previous year. This reduction is directly tied to the planned divestiture of the MC-12 aircraft fleet, which is scheduled to decrease from five aircraft to zero by the end of FY 2025. The drawdown aligns with broader force structure decisions and the transition of SOF AISR capabilities to other platforms or systems as part of ongoing modernization efforts.

By FY 2026, the MC-12 line item does not include any OOC funding, as the aircraft are fully divested from the SOF inventory. This marks the end of procurement and sustainment activities for the MC-12 platform under this budget line. The absence of funding in FY 2026 and beyond reflects the completion of the program's objectives and the shift of SOF AISR requirements to alternative solutions.

Throughout its execution, the MC-12 program has focused on providing SOF with a flexible, rapidly deployable ISR capability tailored to unique mission profiles. The program justified its expenditures by emphasizing the operational necessity of real-time intelligence and targeting support for SOF missions, particularly in contested and dynamic environments. Modifications and training systems funded under this line item were designed to maximize the effectiveness and survivability of SOF aircrews and platforms.