Editing Lockheed EC-130 (section)

==Operational history==
[[File:Interior of an EC-130J Commando Solo Mar 2003.jpg|thumb|right|U.S. Military personnel assigned to the [[4th Psychological Operations Group]], [[193d Special Operations Wing]], Pennsylvania Air National Guard broadcast television and radio programming from on board an EC-130E aircraft, in support of [[Iraq War|Operation Iraqi Freedom]].]]

Entering service with the [[Tactical Air Command]] (TAC), the EC-130E Commando Solo was originally modified by using the mission electronic equipment from the [[EC-121 Warning Star|EC-121S Coronet Solo]]. Soon after the then-193rd Special Operations Group received its EC-130s, the unit participated in the rescue of US citizens in [[Operation Urgent Fury]], acting as an airborne radio station informing those people on [[Grenada]] of the US military action. In 1989, the EC-130 Commando Solo was instrumental in the success of coordinated psychological operations in [[Operation Just Cause]], again broadcasting continuously throughout the initial phases of the operation to help end the [[Manuel Noriega]] regime. In 1990, the EC-130E joined the newly formed [[Air Force Special Operations Command]] ([[AFSOC]]) and has since been designated Commando Solo, with no change in mission.
[[File:193d Special Operations Wing - C-130s.jpg|thumb|An EC-130E Commando Solo and EC-130J Commando Solo of the [[193d Special Operations Wing|193rd Special Operations Wing]] from [[Harrisburg Air National Guard Base]].]]
More recently, in 1994, the EC-130E Commando Solo was used to broadcast radio and television messages to the citizens and leaders of [[Haiti]] during [[Operation Uphold Democracy]]. The EC-130s deployed early in the operation, highlighting the importance of PSYOP in avoiding military and civilian casualties. President Aristide was featured on the broadcasts which contributed significantly to the orderly transition from military rule to democracy.

The aircraft was also deployed during the [[2010 Haiti earthquake]], broadcasting a recording from [[Raymond Joseph]] (Haiti's ambassador to the United States) warning residents not to attempt to flee to the United States by sea.  The aircraft also broadcast announcements of where earthquake victims can go for food and aid, news from [[Voice of America]], and instructions on hygiene procedures to prevent disease.<ref>{{cite news
 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/19/haiti.broadcast.warning/index.html?hpt=T2
 |title=Radio station in the sky warns Haitians not to attempt boat voyage
 |date=19 January 2010
 |access-date=19 January 2010
 |publisher=[[CNN]]
}}</ref>

On the second day of [[Operation Odyssey Dawn]], an EC-130J warned Libyan shipping "Libyan ships or vessels do not leave port, the Gaddafi regime forces are violating a United Nations resolution ordering the end to the hostilities in your country. If you attempt to leave port, you will be attacked and destroyed immediately. For your own safety do not leave port."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/03/secret-libya-psyops/|title=Listen: Secret Libya Psyops, Caught by Online Sleuths|magazine=Wired|date=20 March 2011}}</ref> The unencrypted message in Arabic, French and English was recorded by a [[ham radio]] operator in the [[Netherlands]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/ham-operator-reveals-us-psyops-broadcast/story-e6frfku0-1226025610252|title=Ham operator reveals US 'psyops' broadcast|publisher=AFP/News|date=21 March 2011}}</ref>

The EC-130 has been flown in operations against the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State]] in Iraq to jam their communications.<ref name="airforcetimes4may17">{{cite web
  | last = Losey
  | first = Stephen
  | title = A new Compass Call: The Air Force is replacing its Vietnam-era electronic warfare planes
  | work = [[Air Force Times]]
  | date = 4 May 2017
| url = https://www.airforcetimes.com/articles/a-new-compass-call-the-air-force-is-replacing-its-vietnam-era-electronic-warfare-planes
  | accessdate = 22 December 2021 }}</ref>