Throughout the Global War on Terror, the MC-130J Commando II saw an abundance of operational action in the Middle East and Africa.

The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) recently announced that it had received its final Lockheed Martin MC-130J “Commando II” aircraft—marking the end of deliveries for a highly capable warplane. 

MC-130J: The Commando of the Skies  

The MC-130J Commando II specializes in infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces. The quality of the aircraft, coupled with the high caliber and training of the Air Commandos onboard, mean that the MC-130J can fly almost anywhere at any time.  

“For decades, Lockheed Martin has consistently delivered critical capabilities for Air Commandos in a timely and effective manner,” U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Justin Hoffman, Deputy Commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, said in a press statement.  “As we continue in an era of strategic competition, we will continue to develop platforms to address future needs and integrate new capabilities.”   

With the final delivery completed, AFSOC now has 57 operational MC-130Js. 

In addition to inserting, extracting, and resupplying special operations forces from the air or ground, the MC-130J can also refuel other special operations aircraft, including Air Force CV-22s and Army MH-60 Black Hawks and MH-47 Chinooks flown by the Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, the “Night Stalkers.” 

“AFSOC’s receipt of the final MC-130J culminates an over fifteen-year effort to recapitalize and re-baseline the Special Operations C-130 fleet,” U.S. Air Force Col. T. Justin Bronder, Special Operations Command PEO Fixed Wing, stated. “This delivery marks both the end of this effort and the beginning of a new era; we will continue to relentlessly evolve AFSOC’s C-130s to ensure these aircraft possesses [sic] capabilities to advance our future force.”

The Commando II’s Battlefield Experience

Similarly to most special operations aircraft, the MC-130J mainly operates in the dark, thus taking advantage of its advanced night vision capabilities and also reducing the threat from airborne and ground systems.  

Throughout the Global War on Terror, the MC-130J Commando II saw an abundance of operational action in the Middle East and Africa. The plane has often supported psychological operations by dropping leaflets on enemy territory. During the darkest days of the “Islamic State” terror group in Iraq and Syria, the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) worked with the Intelligence Community on a psychological warfare campaign against the terrorists, using MC-130Js to drop tens of thousands of leaflets.

“The Commando II flies clandestine, or low visibility, single or multiship, low-level infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces, by airdrop or airland and air refueling missions for special operations helicopters and tiltrotor aircraft, intruding politically sensitive or hostile territories,” according to an Air Force statement on the aircraft. 

In terms of manpower, the MC-130J requires a crew of five—two pilots, one combat systems officer, and two loadmasters. It has a maximum take-off weight of around 165,000 lbs. As far as speed, the MC-130J is relatively slow—with a cruising speed of 415 miles per hour—but can fly for 3,000 miles without refueling.  

About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou  

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

Image: Wikimedia Commons.

The post The United States Is Buying Its Last “Commando” Aircraft appeared first on The National Interest.