The EC-130H is a modified C-130H designed to disrupt enemy C3 and limit adversary coordination and force management. Tasks include tactical jamming/disruption of communications, radar, and navigation, offensive counterinformation, EA, and SEAD support.
The fleet has been deployed near-constantly since the beginning of combat operations in Afghanistan in 2001.
The aircraft was designed to be easily updated and modified. All aircraft have been retrofitted to Block 35 standards and are aerial refuelable. Mission equipment upgrades occur approximately every three years to ensure continued protection and effectiveness against evolving threats.
The most recent Baseline 3 configuration includes the Advanced Radar Countermeasure System (ARCS) and other significant capability enhancements, while Baseline 4 will be fielded on the next-generation EA-37B in 2026.
Some 70 percent of the EC-130H’s mission equipment will be directly cross-decked to the EA-37B successor platform. EC-130H airframes have reached the limit of their planned service life and the first aircraft retired to the “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan on Aug. 31, 2021. ACC divested two airframes in FY24, reducing the fleet to four and freeing mission equipment for use on the EA-37B.
The 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron at Davis-Monthan flew its final EC-130 sortie on Feb. 15, 2024, leaving its sister squadron, the 41st ECS, as the type’s final operator.
EC-130H Compass Call Technical Data
Contractors: Lockheed Martin; BAE Systems (mission equipment); L3Harris (integration and sustainment).
First Flight: 1981.
Delivered: March 19, 1982
IOC: 1983; Block 35 from 2011.
Production: Converted.
Inventory: 4 (EC-130H).
Operator: ACC.
Aircraft Location: Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
Active Variants: •EC-130H. Electronic attack variant of the C-130H.
Dimensions: Span 132.6 ft, length 99 ft, height 38 ft.
Weight: Max T-O 155,000 lb.
Power Plant: Four Allison T56-A-15 turboprops, each 4,910 shp.
Performance: Speed 300 mph at 20,000 ft, unrefueled range 2,295 miles, seven hr normal endurance (air refuelable).
Ceiling: 25,000 ft.
Accommodation: Two pilots, navigator, flight engineer; mission crew: two EWOs; mission crew supervisor (cryptologic), four cryptologic linguists, acquisition operator, and airborne maintenance technician.
