Latest Coalition PSYOPS Transmission on 10405 kHz

This transmission was recorded this morning EST local here in North Carolina from a coalition Psyops aircraft located somewhere in the theater. The broadcast was in Arabic and English and directed towards members of the Libyan Navy.

Some thoughts on the Psyop transmissions on 6877.0 kHz

USAF EC-130H Compass Call aircraft (USAF Photo)

There has been a lot of chatter over the last 36-48 hours regarding Arabic language transmissions by a coalition asset on 6877.0 kHz.

Here is another report by Ary Boender posted to the Spooks newsgroup:

"6877 kHz : Psychological operations, probably from an EC-130J Commando Solo III. It asks Libyan naval officers not to board their ships in Arab, English and French. After a while the station was jammed. I heard the station on 20-3-2011 at ca. 0900 UTC with a fair signal but quite noisy."

Recordings are available from the UDXF/N&O websites
http://www.udxf.nl
Numbers and Oddities website or an alternate address at http://www.numbersoddities.nl/

Andrew Wiggin did a partial English transcript of the 6877 kHz transmission loop (which transmitted the same message in English, French and Arabic:

"Libyan ship or vessel: Remain anchored; do not leave port. The Khaddafi regime forces are violating a United Nations resolution ordering the end of hostilities in your country. If you attempt to leave port, you will be attacked and destroyed immediately. For your own safety do not leave port."

Most people have pointed to the EC-130J 193SOS Pysop bird callsign Steel 74 as a possible candidate for these broadcast. While that may be and has been widely reported as such, I am still not totally convinced that it is the 130J. While these transmissions wouldn't really be out of character for the types of transmissions that these aircraft have transmitted in the past, they are usually used for mostly AM/Fm/TV broadcast stuff.

These transmissions appear to be aimed at Libyan military forces on a non-broadcast frequency -- a known Libyan Navy frequency.

Another candidate aircraft for these transmissions that is in theater is the EC-130 Compass Call aircraft that has been using the callsign Sheen 53. According to the official US Air Force factsheet:

Mission -- The EC-130H Compass Call is an airborne tactical weapon system using a heavily modified version of the C-130 Hercules airframe. The system disrupts enemy command and control communications and limits adversary coordination essential for enemy force management. The Compass Call system employs the offensive counterinformation and electronic attack or EA capabilities in support of U.S. and Coalition tactical air, surface, and special operations forces . . . All Compass Call aircraft are assigned to Air Combat Command. The EC-130H Compass Call is operated by the 55 Electronic Combat Group (41st, 42nd and 43d Electronic Combat Squadrons) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

Another background source on this aircraft's mission statement reads: . . . disrupt enemy command and control communications and limits adversary coordination essential for enemy force management.

Well this certainly fits what has been heard by our European monitoring brethen.

And still another thought on all of this comes from Kim Elliott on his website at
http://kimelli.nfshost.com/index.php?id=10926

"On 6877 kHz, the transmission could be from land-based transmitter in Europe, or from a ship in the Mediterranean, and still be heard in Libya. The Commando Solo aircraft may not be needed unless used for FM and television, which have shorter range. See also http://twitter.com/utilityworld by Hugh Stegman."

If you want more on all this Psyop stuff, I would recommend that you keep an eye on Gayle's Shortwave Central blog (http://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/), her twitter feed at(http://twitter.com/QSLRptMT or the MT Shortwave Central fan page on Facebook for any late breaking news on Psyop broadcast from the Commando Solo aircraft -- Steel 74 -- in the Libyan NFZ theater.

USAF EC-130J Commando Solo aircraft (USAF Photo)

First MC-130J training program takes flight

An EC-130J Commando Solo from the 193rd Special Operations Squadron flown by Air Force Special Operations Training Center students class 1101 flies in formation Feb. 11, 2011, over Harrisburg, Pa., during a training sortie. Class 1101 is the first group of students to attend mission qualification training for the EC-130J that will replace all the E- and P-model aircraft within the next few years. The EC-130J is equipped with modern avionics and mission systems. It is expected to provide specialized mobility to combatant commanders. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Julianne M. Showalter)

by Rachel Arroyo, Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFNS) -- As the first MC-130J Combat Shadow II rolled off the Lockheed Martin factory line, a training flight class recently conducted sorties in preparation for transition to the new airframe.

The Air Force Special Operations Training Center's first MC-130J training program flight class practiced air drops, aerial refueling and formation on an EC-130J Commando Solo at Harrisburg International Airport, PA recently.

AFSOTC officials worked in conjunction with members from the 193rd Special Operations Wing, Marines and National Guard Bureau officials to kick-start a training program two years in the making.

"This first class is a small group try-out designed to validate our syllabus of instruction for the remaining classes," said Maj. Robert Deka, the AFSOTC MC-130J training program manager.

In a phase AFSOTC commander Col. Mark Alsid referred to as "train the trainer," the program has pooled the best instructors to provide academic instruction to air commandos who will take that knowledge and bring it back to their home bases.

"AFSOTC is setting the stage for the future of this platform, and the MC-130J is a huge addition to the AFSOC fleet, so we have to get it right," Colonel Alsid said.

The program features pilot, combat systems officer and loadmaster training with different facets held in California, New Mexico, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Florida.

After completing training in their respective areas, the flight class members met in Harrisburg for the first time to practice piloting the J-model with a reduced number of crew, which required enhanced coordination among members.

The MC-130J is manned by a five-member crew. This is a reduction in size from the standard eight-member MC-130P Combat Shadow crew, Major Deka said.

With no flight engineer or radio systems operator, the loadmaster will assume many of the duties previously designated to those positions, including the complete preflight and loading of cryptic codes, said Master Sgt. Scott Reed, the AFSOTC lead J-model loadmaster. The loadmaster will also be a systems expert.

The combat systems operator will also engage in less traditional navigation duties as he handles in-flight helicopter refueling procedures normally conducted by the flight engineer, he said.

No glitches occurred while coordinating these functions, Sergeant Reed said. Though this was the first class training flight on the Commando Solo, program instructors have been using MC-130J procedures for a few years.

Sergeant Reed has been involved with the training program since its inception two years ago. He said he was honored to jump in headfirst and apply his knowledge of the MC-130P Combat Shadow to developing a training plan for the J-model alongside a select group of talented aviators, which includes some from the Combat Talon community.

"It's rewarding," he said. "We literally started with nothing."

Lt. Col. Tobin Wong, a AFSOTC evaluator pilot and MC-130J subject-matter expert, echoed the sentiments of Sergeant Reed.

"It's exciting. A lot of hard work has gone into the training," Colonel Wong said. "But we could not have gotten to this point without the support of the 193rd SOW."

In addition to qualifying crew members in MC-130J procedures, the program is designed to keep those qualified current until the Combat Shadow II is delivered later this year, Major Deka said.

The goal is to have at least five crews, or 25 members, trained by September, he said.

The EC-130J sorties will continue to take place in Harrisburg through the spring, Major Deka said. The program instructors, many of whom are among the few MC-130J subject-matter experts in the Air Force, will continue to develop the training in anticipation of the arrival of the streamlined airframe.

"The ability to get things right and set standards now is great," Sergeant Reed said. "It's certainly an outstanding time to be an aviator at AFSOC."

These sorties approach the culmination of AFSOC commander Lt. Gen. Donald Wurster's priority to recapitalize the fleet by acquiring up to 37 MC-130Js to replace aircraft that have been flying combat missions for up to 40 years.

The MC-130J will replace aging MC-130E Combat Talon I and MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft.

The Combat Shadow II will fly clandestine, low-level aerial refueling missions as well as infiltration, exfiltration and resupply missions.

Pentagon psy-ops unit also does domestic disaster aid

On the Washington Post website in Jeff Stein's Spytalk section, there is an interesting article on the ANG 193rd Commando Solo aircraft.

The last part of the article went a little wide afield, "Occasionally, however, information surfaces to suggest that NORTHCOM has co-mingled civil defense and domestic psychological warfare functions, raising Orwellian suspicions among some."

But the big headline in this article is the mission change in June.

". . . when the name of the mission was changed to a more civilian-friendly “Military Information Support Operations,” or MISO.

"Under any name, the planes are equipped to broadcast radio and television messages to target audiences, including in the United States.

"Although the unit’s main mission is foreign, to counter an adversary’s propaganda or propagate our own (such as all-is-lost surrender messages aimed at Iraqi troops), the 193rd is also ready to spring into action domestically under the Defense Department's Northern Command, or NORTHCOM, which was established in Colorado Springs, Colo., after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks."

You can read the rest of the copyrighted story online at the link below.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/spy-talk/2010/08/us_command_still_has_a_domesti.html?referrer=emaillink

U.S. Military Delivers Self-powered Radios to Earthquake Survivors

AM Broadcast DXers should look for EC-130 transmissions on 1030 kHz AM. See our related story on the Commando Solo aircraft at
http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2010/01/193rd-special-operations-wing-to.html

HOMESTEAD ARB, Fla. - A U.S. Air Force C-130 is delivering 50,000 hand-held radios for distribution to Haitian earthquake survivors by the recent devastating earthquake.

The radios will be distributed by JTF-Haiti and are expected to arrive later this week.

The small emergency radios are both solar-powered and hand-cranked and do not require batteries.

Radios are being distributed in order for affected citizens to receive news and important information concerning international relief efforts.

In close coordination with the government of Haiti, JTF-Haiti is currently broadcasting news, public health, safety and information regarding relief efforts via a military aircraft equipped with FM and AM broadcasting capability.

Public safety messages are broadcasting in the following frequencies: 92.4 FM, 104.1 FM, 1030 AM.

The role of U.S. military forces during this humanitarian assistance and disaster relief effort is to rapidly respond with critically needed supplies and medical services in those areas the Haitian government deems necessary.

U.S. Department of Defense forces are part of a larger, unified United States federal response to the Government of Haiti's request for humanitarian aid. U.S. Southern Command is working with the Department of State, USAID, the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance and others to aggressively provide life-sustaining services to the people of Haiti.

193rd Special Operations Wing to provide disaster relief in Haiti

Editors Note: Based on the press release below, we expect to have some DoD broadcast into Haiti on AM, FM, TV or shortwave to the Haitian people from the EC-130J Commando Solo aircraft in the area. Any reports of Commando Solo transmissions would certainly be appreciated here or to our sister blog - the Shortwave Central at http://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/

by Airman 1st Class Claire Behney, 193rd Special Operations Wing

HARRISBURG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Pa. - In an unprecedented humanitarian mission, some 50 Airmen and three C-130 aircraft from the 193rd Special Operations Wing have departed in support of relief efforts in Haiti. The aircraft will be staged at locations outside the devastated area.

Two of the aircraft are cargo aircraft. The third, named Commando Solo, is an airborne radio and television station that will provide important information to the Haitian people.

"Our National Guard is honored to extend a helping hand to the people of Haiti. I am proud of these dedicated Airmen who are always ready to answer the call of duty, whether it is for combat missions or to aid those in need," said Maj. Gen. Jessica L. Wright, commander, Pennsylvania National Guard.

One of the aircraft departed late Thursday evening, the other two aircraft left Middletown, Pa., today.

The 193rd was called to serve in Haiti more than a decade ago. In 1994, Commando Solo was used to broadcast radio and television messages to the citizens and leaders of Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy. This is, however, the first humanitarian mission of its type for the wing.

The duration of the mission is undetermined at this time.

Members of the 193rd recently returned home from a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.