Editing Lockheed MC-130 (section)

===Development===
The Combat Talon was developed between December 1964 and January 1967 by [[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed Air Services]] (LAS) at [[Ontario, California]], as the result of a study by ''[[Big Safari]]'', the USAF's program office that modifies and sustains special mission aircraft. Two highly classified testbed aircraft (originally serial no. ''64-0506'' and ''-0507'', but with all numbers "sanitized" from the aircraft), were assigned to Project ''Thin Slice'' to develop a low-level clandestine penetration aircraft for [[Special Forces]] operations in Southeast Asia.{{sfn|Thigpen|2001|p=19}} In 1964, Lockheed was ordered to adapt the C-130Es after six [[C-123 Provider|C-123B Providers]] modified for "unconventional warfare" under Project ''Duck Hook'' proved inadequate for the new [[Studies and Observation Group|MACV-SOG]].<ref name="ct20">Thigpen (2001), p. 20.</ref> The modifications under ''Thin Slice'' and its August 1966 successor ''Heavy Chain'' were code-named ''Rivet Yard'',<ref>''Rivet'' is the prefix designation for the names of all modification projects controlled by the ''[[Big Safari]]'' office, in this case its Detachment 4 at Ontario, California.</ref> and the four C-130Es came to be known as "Yards".<ref>{{harvnb|Thigpen|2001|p=19}} Thigpen commanded the 8th SOS during Operation Just Cause and spent more than 10 years in the Combat Talon program.</ref> Discrete modification tests were conducted by the [[1198th Operational Evaluation and Training Squadron]], out of Area II of [[Norton AFB]] at San Bernardino, California, 30 miles east of Ontario.<ref>[[Lars Olausson|Olausson, Lars]], ''Lockheed Hercules Production List – 1954–2008'' – 25th ed., Såtenäs, Sweden, April 2007. Self-published. {{No ISBN}}.</ref><ref>Mueller, Robert, ''Air Force Bases Volume I – Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982''; Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force, Washington, DC, 1989, p. 447. {{ISBN|0-912799-53-6}}.</ref>
[[File:USAF Hercules MC-130E Combat Talon I at RIAT 2010 arp.jpg|thumb|MC-130E Combat Talon I of the <br />[[Air Force Reserve]]'s [[919th Special Operations Wing]] taxis to the runway at [[RIAT]] 2010]]

As the ''Thin Slice'' aircraft were being developed, 14 C-130Es were purchased for SOG in 1965 for similar modification. The first aircraft were production C-130Es without specialized equipment that were produced at Lockheed's facility in [[Marietta, Georgia]]. Three production airplanes per month were given the Fulton STARS (then ARS) system.<ref name="ct20" /> While awaiting the ARS equipment, the C-130s were ferried to [[Greenville, Texas]], for painting by [[Ling-Temco-Vought]] Electrosystems with a low-radar reflective paint that added 168&nbsp;kg (370&nbsp;lbs) to their weight. The velvet black-and-green scheme drew the nickname "Blackbirds".<ref name="ct58">Thigpen (2001), p. 58. That nickname lasted until the 1980s, when Dupont stopped manufacturing the paint.</ref> As installation was completed, the Blackbirds were returned to Ontario for installation of the electronics package, code-named ''Rivet Clamp''. The modified aircraft became known as "Clamps" (two of the original 14, ''64–0564'' and ''-0565'', were diverted to ''Heavy Chain'' in August 1966).<ref name="ct20" /> The aircraft collectively were assigned the designation ''Combat Talon'' in 1967.<ref name="ct88">Thigpen (2001), p. 88.</ref>

The [[Fulton surface-to-air recovery system]] was used to extract personnel and materials via air. A large [[helium]] [[balloon]] raised a nylon lift line into the air, which was snagged by a large scissors-shaped yoke attached to the nose of the plane. The yoke snagged the line and released the balloon, yanking the attached cargo off the ground with a shock less than that of an opening parachute. A sky anchor secured the line and wires stretched from the nose to both leading [[wing tip]] edges protected the propellers from the line on missed snag attempts. Crew members hooked the snagged line as it trailed behind and attached it to the [[Hydraulics|hydraulic]] [[winch]], pulling the attached person or cargo into the plane through the rear cargo door.

Following a death on 26 April 1982, at [[CFB Lahr]], Germany,<ref>Thigpen (2001), pp. 261–262, Appendix A, p. 469. The Special Forces soldier suffered a punctured lung and broken hip in the short fall, but died of complications from a [[tracheotomy]] during medical evacuation.</ref> the Fulton STARS system on the Clamp aircraft underwent intense maintenance scrutiny and employment of the system for live pickups was suspended. A major effort at upgrading the system, ''Project 46'',<ref>Thigpen (2001), p. 304. So-called because its objective was to develop a capability of extracting four to six troops in a single pass.</ref> was pursued from 1986 to 1989, but at its conclusion, use of the STARS system for live extractions remained suspended. The Fulton STARS equipment of all Combat Talons was removed during 1998.<ref>Thigpen (2001), p. 38.</ref>

''Rivet Clamp'' installation began with four STARS-equipped C-130s completed by March 1966, followed by installations in eight further aircraft in July 1966 and January 1967.<ref name="ct20"/> The ''Rivet Clamp''s, originally designated C-130E(I)sp,<ref name="ct20"/> were equipped with an [[electronic countermeasures|electronic]] and [[infrared countermeasures|infrared (IR)]] [[countermeasure]]s suite; and the SPR2 later the AN/APQ-115 TF/TA multimode radar. This radar, adapted from the [[Texas Instruments]] AN/APQ-99 radar used in the [[F-4 Phantom II|RF-4C Phantom]] photo reconnaissance aircraft, featured [[terrain-following radar|terrain following/terrain-avoidance (TF/TA)]] and mapping radar modes, to enable it to operate at low altitudes at night and in all weather conditions and avoid known enemy radar and [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] weapons concentrations.<ref name="ct21">Thigpen (2001), p. 21. The 12 original C-130E(I) "Clamps" were ''64–0523'', ''-0547'', ''-0551'', ''-0555'', ''-0558'', ''-0559'', ''-0561'', ''-0562'', ''-0563'', ''-0566'', ''-0567'', and ''-0568''.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=MC-130E Combat Talon I |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/mc-130e.htm |access-date=10 December 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061202043521/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/mc-130e.htm |archive-date=2 December 2006 }}</ref>

Beginning in 1970, Texas Instruments and Lockheed Air Service worked to adapt the existing AN/APQ-122 Adverse Weather Aerial Delivery System (AWADS) with terrain following/terrain avoidance modes to replace the original APQ-115, which suffered throughout its life with an unacceptably adverse mean-time-between-failure (MTBF) rate. In 1970 they succeeded, and coupled the APQ-122 with the [[Litton Industries|Litton]] LN-15J [[Inertial Navigation System]] (INS). Known as MOD-70, the modified radar was installed in all 12 operational Combat Talons and the four ''Heavy Chain'' test beds between 1971 and 1973. The system proved so successful that it continued in service until the late 1980s.<ref name="ct66">Thigpen (2001), p. 66.</ref> Following the completion of MOD-70, the Combat Talons were divided into three designations: C-130E(CT) for the "Clamp" aircraft, C-130E(Y) for the "Yank" (formerly "Yard") Talons, and C-130E(S) for the "Swap".<ref name="ct70">Thigpen (2001), p. 70. The "Swap" Talons were originally Rivet Clamp modifications without the Fulton STARS apparatus.</ref> The Combat Talon I designations were consolidated in 1977 as the '''MC-130''' and have remained under that designation since.<ref name="ct168">Thigpen (2001), p. 168.</ref> The Combat Talon became the ''Combat Talon I'' in 1984 with the authorization for the modification of 24 C-130Hs to Combat Talon II specifications.<ref>Thigpen (2001), P. 396.</ref>

The "Yank" Talons conducted [[Classified information#Top Secret (TS)|top secret]] operations worldwide, under the project name ''Combat Sam'', until late 1972.<ref name="ct20" /> Two of the original "Clamps" were lost in combat in Southeast Asia and were replaced by two C-130Es (64-0571 and −0572).<ref name="ct21" /> These remained as Combat Talons until 1972, when ''Heavy Chain'' was gradually discontinued and its four "Yank" aircraft<ref name="ct21" /> were integrated into the Combat Talon force. The two original ''Thin Slice'' aircraft were given the serials of two destroyed C-130s, ''62-1843'' and ''63-7785'' respectively, to disguise their classified origins.{{sfn|Thigpen|2001|p=19}} The replacements had their modifications removed and returned to airlift duties, although known as "Swaps", they remained available for future Combat Talon use. Both eventually became Combat Talons again after further losses in the Combat Talon inventory.

Capability to act as a Forward Area Refueling Point (FARP) for helicopters on the ground was begun in 1980 in preparation for ''[[Operation Eagle Claw]]'' (see below), although only one system could be installed before the mission was executed. The refueling system consists of two palletized 6,800 L (1,800 gal) tanks (known as Benson tanks) mounted on rails within the Talon that tie into the C-130's own pressurized fuel dumping pumps and require no further equipment.<ref>Thigpen (2001), p. 237.</ref>

A major modification between 1986 and 1994, MOD-90, modernized the capability and serviceability of the Talon I to extend its service life. All 14 Combat Talon Is were equipped with upgraded navigational radars, an enhanced [[electronic warfare]] suite and provided new outer wings.<ref>Thigpen (2001), p. 473, lists all the changes. Other notable major upgrades were engine upgrade to [[Allison T56]]-A-15, new center wing boxes, installation of flare/chaff dispensers, infrared defensive pods, new FLIR, low gloss two-shade gray paint, the Universal Aerial Refueling Receptacle/Slipway, and Benson tanks for all aircraft.</ref> By 1995 all Combat Talon Is were equipped with helicopter-[[air refueling]] pods.<ref name="fact">{{cite web |url=https://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Display/tabid/224/Article/104534/mc-130h-combat-talon-ii.aspx |title=MC-130H Combat Talon II fact sheet |publisher=U.S. Air Force |access-date=6 April 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422182137/http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Display/tabid/224/Article/104534/mc-130h-combat-talon-ii.aspx |archive-date=22 April 2016 }}</ref><ref>Thigpen (2001), pp. 49 and 56.</ref>