The 193rd Special Operations Wing has bid farewell to the last Lockheed Martin
EC-130J Commando Solo III aircraft as they took their final flight from Pennsylvania. The EC-130J Commando Solo is a modified Super Hercules used to conduct psychological operations (PSYOP) and is not to be confused with the related EC-130H Compass Call. The
venerable EC-130H Compass Call is a vital EW asset and is also being gradually withdrawn
from the United States Air Force
.
Retirement of final two EC-130J Commando Solo
The EC-130J’s role is to conduct airborne information operations via digital and analog radio and TV broadcasts. Lockheed Martin states, “The EC-130J Commando Solo is designed to conduct information operations, psychological operations, and civil affairs broadcasts in AM, FM, HF, TV, and military communications bands.”
Photo: United States Air Force
The Air Force has been gradually retiring its fleet of Commando Solo and Compass Call aircraft. These latest retirements include the final two Commando Solo aircraft (tail numbers 96-8153 and 99-1933). Reporting on the retirement of the final EC-130J Commando Solo, the Air Force stated:
“It [the EC-130J] has been replaced with the C-130J Commando II mission, which flies clandestine – or low visibility – single or multi-ship, 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.” – US Air Force
The final flight for the EC-130J took place on September 18, 2024, from Middletown, Pennsylvania. Their final flight was flying from their home airport of Harrisburg International to Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas. As they left, 99-1933 performed a few fly-bys for the members of the Wing and the airport.
Parallel phasing out of the EC-130H Compass Call
Simple Flying has reported previously that the Air Force is phasing out the iconic EC-130H Compass Call aircraft (these are based on the versatile Hercules platform). The Compass Call are operated by the 55th Electronic Combat Group at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona.
Photo: United States Air Force
The Compass Call is one of a range of special mission information gathering and jamming aircraft flown by the Air Force (the Navy’s counterpart is the EA-Growler). The EC-130H Compass Call has the ability to perform SEAD (suppression of the enemy’s air defense systems) and pave the way for DEAD (destruction of the enemy’s air defense systems).
Replacement by the EA-37Bs
The 14 EC-130H Compass Call aircraft are being
partially replaced by the 10 EA-37Bs built on the Gulfstream G550 business jet.
The first EA-37B was delivered to the Air Force in September 2023, and they are expected to reach initial operating capability in 2026. They will eventually also take over the name “Compass Call.” The new EA-17Bs will be half the weight and reduce the operating costs by 50% compared with the older aircraft. While they may not look as formidable as the Hercules aircraft before them, they represent decades of technological improvement.