First MC-130J Commando II for Pennsylvania ANG
On 2 February 2023, the first Lockheed MC-130J Commando II, with serial number 08-6206 (c/n 382-5696), for Pennsylvania Air National Guard's 193rd Special Operations Squadron, part of the 193rd Special Operations Wing, arrived at Harrisburg Air National Guard Base near Middletown (PA).
Having arrived from Cannon AFB (NM) at its new homebase as "Havoc 99", the 193rd SOS/193rd SOW is the first, and currently the only ANG unit to receive the Commando II to support missions for Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).
While the MC-130J arrived at Harrisburg under the cloak of night, this was perhaps appropriate given the nature of its mission. The Commando II flies clandestine, or low visibility. single or multi-ship, low-level infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of Special Operations Forces (SOF), by airdrop or airland and air refueling missions for special operations HH-60 helicopters and MV-22B tiltrotor aircraft, intruding politically sensitive or hostile territories.
Until now, the unit operated the EC-130J Commando Solo as part of the only airborne Military Information Support Operations (MISO) broadcasting platform in the US military for decades, the Pennsylvania unit had been preparing for its MC-130J mission conversion since 2021.
It is believed that some EC-130Js are still at Harrisburg awaiting disposal to either the "Boneyard" near Tucson (AZ) or (hopefully) some will be preserved at various museums.
Photos via USAF