| RC-130 Hercules | |
|---|---|
![]()  | |
| A C-130 similar to this one, can be modified for reconnaissance | |
| Role | Military reconnaissance aircraft | 
| National origin | United States | 
| Manufacturer | Lockheed | 
| First flight | 1958 | 
| Primary user | United States Air Force | 
| Produced | 15 | 
| Developed from | Lockheed C-130 Hercules | 
The Lockheed RC-130 Hercules were 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
See also
Related development
- Lockheed C-130 Hercules
 - Lockheed AC-130
 - Lockheed DC-130
 - Lockheed EC-130
 - Lockheed EC-130H Compass Call
 - Lockheed HC-130
 - Lockheed L-100 Hercules
 - Lockheed LC-130
 - Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules
 - Lockheed Martin KC-130
 - Lockheed MC-130
 - Lockheed WC-130
 
Related lists
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Francillon 1982, p. 347-373
 - ↑ "NSA PDF file" (PDF).
 - ↑ Pike, John. "Battlefield Illumination Airborne System (BIAS)". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
 - ↑ "Why Iran's Air Force is Still Flying American Planes". 13 February 2017.
 
Bibliography
- Francillon, René. Lockheed Aircraft since 1913. London: Putnam, 1982. ISBN 0-370-30329-6.
 
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