MARINES * AIRCRAFT

BRIEFING: The EA-6B Prowler provides the landing force commander with an excellent weapon against enemy air defenses. Marine Prowlers can operate from prepared airfields, expeditionary airfields, and/or aircraft carriers. The Corps will continue to operate four squadrons of five EA-6Bs each. Marine Corps EA-6B squadrons are unique in that they deploy with the Tactical Electronic Reconnaissance Processing and Evaluation System, which provides a task force commander with valuable tactical order-of-battle information and access to data from national sensors. With the retirement of Air Force EF-111 aircraft, the EA-6B is the nation's only tactical electronic jamming aircraft. The Marine Corps is receiving Block 89A upgrade aircraft-the baseline aircraft for the ICAP III upgrade. The Block 89A modification program combines avionics upgrades and depot-level maintenance to reduce the number of aircraft awaiting repairs. Block 89A avionics improvements include the installation of ARC-210 radios, an enhanced AYK-14 mission computer, and an embedded global-positioning system/inertial-navigation system. The standardized Block 89A configuration is intended to enhance joint and allied interoperability. Marine Corps EA-6B squadrons provided electronic warfare support for coalition forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. (See Navy Aircraft section for EA-6B specifications.)

KC-130 HERCULES

BRIEFING: The KC-130 Hercules' primary mission is to provide fixed-wing and helicopter tactical aerial refueling and assault air transport of Marines, equipment, and supplies to Fleet Marine Forces. It also provides support for MEU(SOC)S, including rapid ground refueling of aircraft and tactical vehicles at forward operating bases. Other missions include air delivery of high-priority cargo and personnel. The KC-130, which entered Marine Corps service in J 961, was combat-proven in Vietnam. Configured to carry personnel, it can transport 92 Marines or 64 parachutists; configured for cargo, it can transport more than 38,000 pounds of weapons, equipment, or other supplies. Carrying wounded, it can handle 74 litter patients. The Coips currently is operating 32 KC-130Fs (average age is 41 years), 13 KC-ISORs (average age 26 years), and 28 KC-130Ts (average age 13 years). The KC-130 fleet consists of three active and two reserve VMGR squadrons and one VMGRT training squadron. Eight late-model KC-130Ts are equipped with defensive ECM suites and interior and exterior lighting compatible with night-vision goggles. The older-model KC-ISOs are being upgraded through an avionics system-improvement program to bring them up to the standard of the new KC-ISOTs; included in the upgrade is the installation of GPS equipment and ARC-210 radios. The current replacement plan for the active-duty KC-ISOFs and KC-ISORs is proceeding on schedule; the KC-ISOJs began developmental/operational testing in October 2001. The KC-13OJ is equipped with new engines, six-bladed composite-material propellers, and a cockpit that uses stateof-the-art digital avionics integrated within a 1553 data-bus architecture. The KC-13OJ is equipped with the Flight Refueling Ltd. Mk32B90 IE aerial refueling system, which has double the delivery rate of ear lier systems. Seventeen KC-LSOJs were funded through FY 2003. The first 11 had been delivered by june 2003. KC-ISOs provided logistics and command-and-control support to coalition forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.