EC-130V Hercules
Lockheed / US Coast Guard · United States · first flew 1991 · reconnaissance aircraft
The EC-130V was a single US Coast Guard Hercules converted to carry an AEW rotodome, intended to detect low-flying drug-smuggling aircraft over the Caribbean.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Standard C-130 Hercules airframe with large AEW rotodome above the fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Standard C-130 Hercules airframe with large AEW rotodome above the fuselage
- White USCG paint scheme with diagonal racing stripe
- Prominent saucer-shaped radome mounted on a pylon over the rear fuselage
The large, prominent rotodome mounted on a pylon above the rear fuselage is unmistakable and instantly distinguishes the EC-130V from any other Hercules variant. The standard four-engined high-wing Hercules platform beneath is otherwise unchanged.
Specifications
- The EC-130V Hercules has a length of 29.79 m (98 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 40.41 m (133 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 592 km/h (368 mph).
- Typical crew: 5–8.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
In the late 1980s the US Coast Guard sought an airborne early warning platform to track low-flying aircraft evading radar coverage over Caribbean drug-trafficking routes. A single HC-130H was fitted with the AN/APS-145 radar in a rotodome — the same system used by the E-2C Hawkeye — creating the EC-130V, which flew its first mission in 1991. Despite demonstrating the concept's effectiveness, only one aircraft was converted; the programme was transferred to the US Navy and the aircraft subsequently modified.
Variants
Only one EC-130V was produced. The conversion demonstrated the utility of the concept and influenced later drug-interdiction surveillance programmes, though the US Navy E-2C ultimately took over the mission.
Where you'll see it
The single EC-130V operated briefly with the USCG out of Clearwater, Florida, before transfer to the Navy. It was later converted back and its rotodome removed.
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