MC-12S EMARSS

Almost since Beechcraft started producing light twin turboprops, all the US services have been operating them as utility aircraft, trainers, and as intelligence/surveillance/reconnaissance platforms.

The latest variant to be fielded is the US Army’s MC-12S. Based on the Beechcraft Super King Air 350 ER, the planes are used to provide both full motion day/night video surveillance and a significant electronic intelligence collection capability in low threat airspaces. Due to funding and development issues, the actual mission equipment varies across the fleet. The end state desired is known as Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System - Multi-Intelligence (EMARSS-M). Some of the airframes are modified MC-12W Liberty recon birds turned over from the US Air Force recently. The Air Force used their full motion video capability in support of Task Force ODIN, a counter IED operation. While they retain that capability in Army service, they can simultaneously conduct ELINT operations.

Another variant of the MC-12S carries a synthetic aperture radar with Moving Target Indicator capability known as the AN/ZPY-5 VADER, or Vehicle And Dismount Exploitation Radar. Basically, it’s a radar sensitive enough to track individuals on foot.

In March of 2016, a Beech Super King Air crashed in Iraq. Interestingly, it was in civilian markings, with a civilian registry. But it was also quite clearly modified for some sort of ISR role, and the registration clearly showed it belonged to the US Army. Exactly what it’s mission was is unknown.

Now, the MC-12S and its variants aren’t a secret. But nobody likes to go into too much detail of what they do, how they do it, and where and  when they do it.  But they will show off a little bit.

Comments

[ChrisP]

The top picture is a DHC-6 Twin Otter.
Just sayin'...

[Heltau]

It seems like it is used like the E-2 is used by the air craft carrier.
I wonder if it can also jam various radars and laser equipment?

[SFC Dunlap 173RVN]

@ChrisP. Avery nice late built variant I'd say....got many a jump out of older models. Love those Twotters!!

[JoshO]

See lots of interesting unusual birds pass through the airport I work at. Lots of these King Air's with all sorts of antennae sticking out of them. Some of those are painted like Army birds and some aren't. Lots of blackhawks and those new army eurocopters, highway patrol and/or FBI Stationairs and 182s with those observation pods hanging off the bottom... last week some funny looking hueys with big new looking engines, I thought they were Marines at first but he paint-scheme was all wrong. Turns out they were Canadians!

[Al_in_Ottawa]

SFC Dunlap, the Viking Twin Otter Series 400 is built exactly like the Series 300 that DeHav stopped producing in 1988. Viking's first 400 was S/N 845 as the last DeHav Twin Otter was S/N 844, I worked on that one. The avionics are upgraded (GPS didn't exist when DeHav ended production) and the engines are now -34s as Pratt no longer makes new -27s and that's about it.

The 4 bladed props are an aftermarket modification that can be applied to any Twin Otter. The enlarged windows are another mod that was originally engineered to give tourists a better view of the Grand Canyon.