Oklahoma ANG unit begins transition with arrival of first MC-12W aircraft

By Sr Airman Justin Creech, 137ARW Public Affairs

WILL ROGERS ANGB, OK.  The OK-ANG's 137ARW welcomed the arrival of the MC-12W aircraft here on July 10.  The arrival of the MC-12 marks the return of flying operations to WRANGB for the first time since 2007.

The 137ARW received the MC-12 based on its manpower, facilities, existing command structure, and strong relationships with local community leaders. The geographical location of the 137ARW provides a highly-conducive flying environment and appropriate training facilities.

"The 137ARW is very excited to return flying operations back to Will Rogers ANGB and join Air Force Special Operations Command," said Air Force Col. Devin R. Wooden, 137ARW commander. "Our last eight years at Tinker AFB and our partnership with the 507ARW is an honored part of our great history. We proudly flew off of this ramp for 58 years before we left for Tinker and to be a part of the team to bring flying operations back is very satisfying. I feel like everyone is back home."

The MC-12 is a medium- to low-altitude, twin-engined turboprop aircraft. Its primary mission is to provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support directly to ground forces serving overseas.

The partnership between AFSOC and the Air National Guard and the ability of the ANG to retain members is another reason WRANGB was chosen to house the MC-12. Air National Guard members historically leave units at significantly lower rates than Active Duty units, which will allow Manned Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance expertise to be retained long-term and become more fully developed. The ANG unit will be able to retain critical expertise by recruiting and retaining those members who are planning to separate from active duty.

"I am personally very happy to be back at the base at which I began my military career," said Air Force Lt. Col. Justin Walker, 185ARS commander. "I am also very excited about the addition of new tactical Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance aircrew members to the squadron.

The basing of the MC-12 is a significant moment for the 137ARW as they transition to an Air Force Special Operations Wing. As a part of AFSOC, the wing will provide highly-trained Air Commandos to execute global special operations missions.

As part of the first Air National Guard/Air Force Reserve partnership, the 137ARW has been functioning as a geographically-separated base with KC-135 Stratotanker flight operations at Tinker Air Force Base and support operations at WRANGB. This partnership was the result of the last major Base Relocation and Closure commission that threatened the 137th with permanent closure.

"The squadron, and ultimately the wing, are poised for complete mission success due to the mix of current and new members," said Walker.

Air Force Announces MC12W Basing Proposal

The Department of the Air Force announced today Beale Air Force Base, Calif., as the preferred alternative basing option for the MC-12W.

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley previously approved six candidate bases. They included Altus Air Force Base, Okla.; Beale Air Force Base, Calif.; Key Field Air National Guard Base, Miss.; Langley Air Force Base, Va.; Robins Air Force Base, Ga.; and Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.

Site survey teams evaluated all candidate bases for feasibility, timing, cost and planning purposes to meet initial operational capability. As a result of these surveys, the range of reasonable alternatives was reduced to three bases: Beale, Robins, and Whiteman.

"Beale Air Force Base is the preferred alternative for basing the MC-12W aircraft given its access to training opportunities, synergy with existing intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance flying missions, and collocation with the distributed ground station mission" said Kathleen Ferguson, deputy assistant secretary for installations.

A preferred alternative is an alternative which the Air Force believes best fulfills its mission and responsibilities, taking into consideration environmental, operational, technical and other factors.

This is not a final basing decision. The preferred alternative with other reasonable alternatives will continue to be evaluated in the environmental impact analysis process.

The MC-12W is a medium- to low-altitude, twin-engine turboprop aircraft. Its primary mission is providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support directly to ground forces.

The MC-12W capability supports all aspects of the world-wide Air Force irregular warfare mission including counter insurgency, foreign internal defense, and building partnership capacity.

MC-12 begins mission in southern Afghanistan

by Tech. Sgt. Renni Thornton, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- Airmen from the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing here welcomed one of the newest members of the Air Force's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance weapons systems to Kandahar Airfield March 29.

The MC-12 Liberty aircraft is a manned special-mission turboprop aircraft designed for ISR and brings a different capability to the fight, said Lt. Col. Darren Halford, the 361st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron commander.

The aircraft flew its first combat sortie here April 1. The MC-12 Liberty provides real-time tactical ISR, with analysts and aircrew deployed together for seamless operations and maximum interaction with joint ground forces.

More aircraft and crews are expected to join this one in the future, Colonel Halford said. In addition to the impressive capabilities of the MC-12, this second squadron in Afghanistan will provide tremendous capacity.

"The MC-12 unparalleled capability to exploit the high ground, and give ground forces vital information about enemy locations and actions," Colonel Halford said. "The MC-12 will protect U.S. and coalition lives, and will be a vital tool helping Afghanistan defeat the insurgency."

The crew consists of a pilot, a co-pilot, a sensor operator and a cryptologic operator, while imagery analysts in the ISR exploitation cell act as a fifth crewmember, exploiting information and liaising with ground forces.

Pilots are trained on the aircraft by officials from the 186th Mississippi Air National Guard based in Meridian, Miss. In less than two years, three squadrons have stood up as solely expeditionary units with no permanent home station.

The newest MC-12s have extended-range fuel tanks, which can increase range and endurance.

"The 361st ERS is building on the lessons learned, successes and proud tradition's already established at the 362nd (Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron) and 4th (Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron)," Colonel Halford said.

The 362nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, surpassed 2,000 sorties in early March and the second MC-12 unit to stand up, the 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, surpassed 300 sorties in its first three months.

MC-12 aircrews complete 2,000th combat sortie

by Senior Airman Wes Carter, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq (AFNS) -- MC-12 Liberty aircrews assigned to the 362nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron completed their 2,000th combat sortie recently from Joint Base Balad.

The MC-12 program took off in the fall as Airmen flew the first combat mission in the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft that supports coalition and joint ground troops in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

"A year ago the commander and I were learning how to start the new aircraft, and now the program just flew its 2,000th mission," said Capt. Ryan Woodman, a 362nd ERS mission pilot. "Given what this program accomplishes for the troops on the ground, it is a great feeling. We are the eyes in the sky for those guys. We are able to communicate and help them with their mission on the ground."

The MC-12, which allows the crew to support the ground troops, is a tactical ISR aircraft. The plane is operated by two pilots in the front of the fixed-wing aircraft and two enlisted members who gather intelligence by operating a sensor, a camera, located on the bottom of the plane. Having people in the aircraft allow adjustments to be made quickly. The adjustments allow a quick dissemination of information.

"As the signals operator, my job is to locate high value individuals and coordinate with the sensor operator to put the intel together," said Senior Airman Candise Woods, a 362nd ERS signals intel operator. "We are able to provide an angle of intel that other forces can't provide. We are providing real-time information to the ground forces."

Junior ranking Airmen in the MC-12 program have a lot of responsibility for this mission.

"Our junior Airmen are constantly in situations where they (must) give correct info in a matter of seconds," said Lt. Col. Phillip Stewart, the 362nd ERS commander. "Their decisions could mean the difference between life and death to the Soldier, Marine or Airmen on the ground. In a split second they have to be able to decide if the guy they are looking at is holding a shovel or a rifle and then transmit it to the ground. They perform under this pressure exceptionally well."

For the last nine months, the MC-12 mission has provided intelligence that has no doubt eased the minds of the security forces members patrolling villages, but it has also contributed to the arrest and prosecution of several dozen wanted individuals, and discovered multiple weapons caches and IEDs.

MC-12 arrives, heralds activation of 4th ERS

Airmen welcomed the first Air Force MC-12 to be based in Afghanistan Dec. 27, 2009. The aircraft brings another capability to Operation Enduring Freedom, because the MC-12 is not just an aircraft, but a complete collection, processing, analysis and dissemination system of Airmen committed to securing Afghanistan and protecting Afghan and coalition lives. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Felicia Juenke)

by Tech. Sgt. John Jung, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- The newest aircraft to the Air Force's inventory arrived Dec. 27, 2009, to Bagram Airfield. The MC-12 aircraft, tail number 090623, was the first of an undisclosed number of aircraft for the new 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron here.

Following the MC-12's arrival, the 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron was activated to carry out MC-12 operations in the Afghan theater of operations.

Col. Patrick McKenzie, the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group commander, presided over the brief ceremony attended by approximately one hundred Airmen and Soldiers.

"The MC-12 is much more than just a fleet of aircraft, its pilots and maintainers. It also consists of equipment and personnel that collect and broadcast full-motion video and signals intelligence, as well as crews that process, exploit and disseminate the information," Colonel McKenzie said. "In addition, the MC-12 encompasses a host of communications experts that support and maintain the added capability that the aircraft brings to the warfighter."

Taking the reins of the 4th ERS was Lt. Col. Douglas Lee, deployed from Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., and a native of Tuscaloosa, Ala.

"As a boy growing up in the Air Force, I could only imagine this day and for this opportunity to come along - [serving] in combat is why we raise our right hand to begin with," he said. "Knowledge is power and that is what we provide. This knowledge will help protect Afghans, provide security and protect Coalition lives. All of these things directly contribute to the combined effort that secures the battlespace and helps the Afghan people to defeat the insurgency."

As the demand for Air Force ISR increases assets, the MC-12 is positioned to meet that demand.

The first of its kind for the Air Force in Afghanistan, the MC-12 provides real-time ISR in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The aircraft bring another capability to Operation Enduring Freedom because the MC-12 is not just an aircraft, but a complete collection, processing, analysis and dissemination system of Airmen committed to securing Afghanistan and protecting Afghan and coalition lives.

Eighteen months ago, 'Project Liberty' was on the drawing board. Today, the aircraft and its crews and maintainers supporting the 4th ERS are operational and ready to go at Bagram Airfield.

"We are not the first to provide ISR, but we hope to enhance the joint effort through synergy with our sister services," Colonel Lee said.

Overall, the MC-12 will augment information gathered by other ISR assets already operating in Afghanistan and complement existing capability. The platform will enhance how Air Force ISR complements the total intelligence 'picture' in the respective commander's scheme of maneuver in the battlespace.

With a unique mission to execute, members of the 4th ERS are eager to "look for trouble," as their squadron motto states, but hope to see it first so U.S. and coalition ground forces can avoid it.

Airmen execute Project Liberty

The first MC-12 Liberty aircraft in-theater taxies out of an aircraft hangar for its first combat sortie June 10 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The Air Force's new manned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform, the MC-12 is designed to directly support ground forces with real-time ISR capability. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tiffany Trojca)

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq (AFNS) -- Eighteen months ago officials created a plan to bolster the Air Force's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission by adding a new platform to the ISR inventory. Now the Airmen assigned to the 362nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron Detachment 1 here at Camp Liberty, Iraq, are charged with the task of standing up the new ISR mission using the newly configured C-12 Huron turboprop planes, designated MC-12W, as ISR platforms.

The program, called Project Liberty, involves Airmen operating the MC-12W aircraft out of Joint Base Balad, Iraq, and more Airmen serving as ground-based crew, gathering and analyzing the intelligence collected from here. The first combat sortie, flown June 9, was a complete success according to all parties involved.

In a recent interview, Maj. Gen. Blair E. Hansen, the A2 director of ISR capabilities and Air Force lead for the task force said, "this fight demands decisive information, surgical ISR, tailored to the level of the fight. This capability will give field commanders more important and timely knowledge to make critical decisions. To be effective in counterinsurgency requires micro information fast, to both kill or capture terrorists as well as to protect our joint and coalition force and the civilian population."

More than 20 trained professionals, all deployed form Langley AFB, Va., work day and night behind the scenes to gather and analyze all the data and imagery the aircraft collects, to provide forward deployed ground forces with the near real-time information to make key battlefield decisions.

"The purpose of Project Liberty is to provide intelligence directly to the warfighter," said Capt. Jeffrey Johnston, 362nd ERS Det. 1 commander. "We are providing daily support to the theater."

Captain Johnston said, the new ISR mission isn't exactly a new capability, but what is new is the concept of the platform and the fact that they are standing up new capabilities to the fight.

"It has been a tremendous amount of work, but we have the absolute best people to pave the way for this growing mission," said Captain Johnston.

According to the detachment's superintendent, standing up a new mission like this isn't ever easy, but said thanks to the hard work of his Airmen the gap has been bridged smoothly.

"There is a reason this team was handpicked to come here," said Master Sgt. Kyle LaLand, who is a native of Queens, N.Y. "I really think we are making a big difference for the guys fighting on the ground."

Air Force officials take delivery of first MC-12

by Tech. Sgt. Amaani Lyle, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

WICHITA, Kan. (AFNS) -- Winning the fight from up high just got more advanced since the recent delivery of the MC-12 Project Liberty special mission turboprop aircraft.

The MC-12 is the first of its kind for the Air Force and is set to venture downrange in May. Lt. Gen. David Deptula, Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and Brig. Gen. Blair E. Hansen, director of ISR Capabilities took delivery of the 16,500-pound special mission aircraft at the Hawker Beechcraft Corporation.

The Project Liberty program is part of the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates' ISR task force and derives from his direction to provide enhanced ISR capabilities to U.S. Central Command.

The complexities of today's battlefield call for sophisticated capabilities and A2 intelligence officials said the MC-12 delivers.

"The MC-12 brings additional electro-optical and infrared full-motion video and signals intelligence to troops on the ground," General Hansen said. "The initial MX-15i system to be installed on the first eight aircraft features an infrared pointer, which allows the aircraft to signal an object or building to a soldier wearing special goggles on the ground," he said. The general added that a planned future upgrade will provide a state-of-the-art laser designator and allow it to target a position with formidable precision.

According to Hawker Beechcraft officials, the aircraft can provide more than eight hours of endurance and has the flexibility to loiter low and slow or cruise at 300 knots and 35,000 feet. Taking off with full fuel and payload, the MC-12 is uniquely equipped to perform medium-altitude surveillance for more than seven hours, fly back 100 nautical miles and still land with more than 45 minutes of fuel on board.

The MC-12 will augment unmanned systems already flying reconnaissance patrols over Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We think this is a core mission of the United States Air Force--medium altitude ISR," General Hansen said. "Through their advanced technology and reliability, these aircraft will increase the number of combat air patrols downrange."

Secretary Gates gave the green light to procure 37 MC-12 aircraft by the end of 2009.