Lockheed DC-130A Hercules

The Lockheed DC‑130A Hercules is a specialized variant of the C‑130 airframe that entered service in the early 1960s as the United States Air Force’s dedicated aerial‑recce platform. Developed by Lockheed Corporation, the DC‑130A combined the robust four‑engine turboprop design of the C‑130 with a suite of side‑looking airborne radar (SLAR), infrared line‑scan sensors and photographic mapping equipment. First delivered to the 55th Reconnaissance Squadron in 1963, the aircraft proved capable of low‑altitude, long‑range missions, gathering intelligence over hostile territory while retaining the C‑130’s renowned short‑field performance and payload capacity. Key features include an integrated electronic warfare suite, a reinforced airframe to support additional sensor pods, and a dedicated data‑link system that transmitted imagery to ground stations in near real time. Over two dozen DC‑130As served through the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and into the early 1990s, providing vital terrain‑mapping and target‑identification support for strategic bombing and special‑operations forces. The DC‑130A’s blend of endurance, versatility, and advanced sensor technology marked a milestone in airborne reconnaissance, influencing the design of later platforms such as the RC‑135 and the modern Global Hawk UAV.

Lockheed Corporation

Lockheed DC-130A Hercules

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Design & Classification