Intelligence: May 18, 2005

Archives

The war on terror has created unexpected demand for some types of U.S. Air Force electronic intelligence aircraft. Chief among these are the EC-130E Senior Hunter SIGINT (signals intelligence) aircraft. These aircraft are C-130 transports that become EC-130E aircraft by loading electronic equipment and operator workstations (mounted on pallets) aboard. Antennas, attached to  removable panels, are then mounted on the undercarriage door and rear cargo compartment passenger door. The installation process takes about twelve hours. Depending on the mission, between four and a dozen operators work in the aircraft. Currently, the United States has six of the kits that turn C-130s into EC-130Es (four with the air force and two with the marines). These aircraft are useful in the war on terror because the terrorists often use radios as their primary communications. Especially in rural areas, like Afghanistan, western Iraq and parts of Africa. Just knowing what kind of radios are being used is useful. Conversations can be recorded and then screened with software that seeks out key words and phrases. EC-130E can also have linguists on board who can listen in and translate on the spot, usually in support of troops on the ground who are looking for someone, or shooting it out with them already.

 


Article Archive

Intelligence: Current 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 


X

ad
0
20

Help Keep Us Soaring

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling. We need your help in reversing that trend. We would like to add 20 new subscribers this month.

Each month we count on your subscriptions or contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage. A contribution is not a donation that you can deduct at tax time, but a form of crowdfunding. We store none of your information when you contribute..
Subscribe   Contribute   Close