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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - As thousands of Marines with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) prepare to deploy to Afghanistan early next year, a group of Marines with the Corps’ oldest continuously active squadron prepares for a unique role.
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 primarily focuses on refueling aircraft in mid air and transporting troops and cargo with the KC-130J Hercules, the Marine Corps’ largest aircraft, and an enduring symbol of American aviation.
The transport squadron is also training to employ a revolutionary and now proven weapons upgrade that attaches to the well-known KC-130J Hercules.
The Harvest HAWK (Hercules Airborne Weapons Kit) is used to turn a C-130 into a Marine Corps-style gunship. This mounted weapons kit allows the squadron to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, multi-image reconnaissance and close air support to Marines and their Afghan and coalition partners conducting counterinsurgency operations.
Training with this new weapon has been the number one priority for the Harvest HAWK team of Marines with VMGR-252, and they have been busy since their return from Afghanistan in June.
“From the moment our Harvest HAWK detachment returned from Afghanistan, we began training a new team to go out on the next deployment,” said Capt. Thane Norman, a fire control officer with the squadron. “Each member of our team is required to complete six flights on the Harvest HAWK, but we go way beyond the requirement.”
The Harvest HAWK team has participated in multiple training exercises in the last five months, including working with a team of British forces from the United Kingdom’s 1st Armored Division in October, helping train the British forces to effectively coordinate air strikes with the squadron’s newest weapons system.
They also trained with Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command and most recently, the Harvest HAWK team sent a detachment of Marines to Savannah, Ga., for a two-week mission readiness exercise earlier this month.
During their training the team focused on employing the aircraft using the added ordnance and targeting system.
A Harvest HAWK-equipped KC-130J Hercules carries four AGM-114 Hellfire and 10 Griffin missiles and a version of the target sight sensor used on AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters.
Both types of missiles can be laser-guided and the Griffin missiles can be guided using global positioning technology.
The targeting system on the aircraft makes for more precise aim and a lower chance of incurring collateral damage during airstrikes.
The squadron has supported military operations for years by transporting troops and cargo, but now can wield its aircraft as a weapon in direct support of Marines on the ground.
The Hercules is capable of remaining in the air for more than 10 hours at a time. This capability allows 2nd MAW (Fwd.) to provide continuous overwatch and close air support.
While equipped with the weapons kit, the Hercules can still perform its traditional missions.
“The Harvest HAWK is a unique asset that only the Marine Corps has,” said Norman. “The best part about the Harvest HAWK is it’s just an attachment. We can take the weapons kit off at any point, and with some rewiring, we can attach it to another C-130.”
| Date Taken: | 11.28.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 11.28.2012 16:29 |
| Story ID: | 98446 |
| Location: | CHERRY POINT, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 131 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 2nd MAW squadron readies to employ revolutionary weapons upgrade in Afghanistan, by SSgt S.T. Stewart, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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