Beech RC12 & NG RC12 X Guardrail

Le Beech King Air 200, devenu RC 12 Guardrail sous l'uniforme de l'US ARMY est en phase de modernisation par Northrop Grumman sur 33 appareils

Rôle : Signal Intelligence ( Sigint ). Capture et "interprétation" de signaux radio / radar

---------------------------------------------January 05, 2010


Northrop Grumman and the US Army recently completed successful electromagnetic interference/electromagnetic
compatibility (EMI/EMC) testing on the first RC-12X Guardrail, bringing this highly-capable signals intelligence (SIGINT) system one step closer to providing mission-critical capability to the warfighter this year.


The RC-12X Guardrail is the Army's premier airborne SIGINT sensor and ground processing system, providing precision geo-location and identification of threats to enable the Brigade Combat Team's Find, Fix, Finish, Exploit, Analyze and Disseminate (F3EAD) battle command process.


The RC-12X Guardrail Modernization program introduces new payloads to the system with enhanced capabilities to sense and exploit emerging and rapidly evolving irregular and conventional warfare threats.
The program also enhances the sustainability of the RC-12X through commonality and significant hardware and software improvements.

"This test is a major milestone both for the Army and for Northrop Grumman as we work toward fielding the improved system in 2010," said Trip Carter, director for Northrop Grumman's Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (AISR) initiatives.

"Our RC-12X Guardrail team is working closely with the Army to ensure that we deploy highly reliable SIGINT capabilities into operations on cost and schedule to fulfill the warfighter's most challenging missions."

The EMI/EMC testing validates operation of the aircraft's electronic systems in a large, electromagnetically shielded chamber.

Various combinations of the avionics and sensor payload equipment are operated independently and simultaneously to identify potential sources of interference or compatibility issues that can effect operations. EMI/EMC testing is required before an airworthiness certificate can be issued.

This most recent test was one in a series of successful assessments before delivery to the Army, currently scheduled for summer 2010. Subsystem tests are underway in Northrop Grumman's Systems Integration Labs (SILs) in Sacramento, Calif.
Ground testing of communications links and basic system functionality begins this month, and flight testing is scheduled to begin in early 2010.

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Le MC-12 Liberty en opex, déjà 2 000 heures de missions

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.

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Senior Airman Wes Carter 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs / AFNS


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IED : improvised explosive device

Photo d'un MC 12

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