Aeronaves y UAV

AC-208 Combat Caravan

Also known as
  • Cessna AC-208
  • Cessna AC-208 Combat Caravan
  • AC-208B
  • AC-208B Armed Caravan
  • AC-208 Armed Caravan
  • AC-208 Eliminator
  • Combat Caravan
  • Armed Caravan

El AC-208 Combat Caravan es una conversion armada del Cessna Caravan que combina una celula turbohelice monomotor robusta con vigilancia electro-optica, controles para operador de sistemas de mision, enlaces de datos y ataque de precision. Irak empleo AC-208 armados con Hellfire durante la guerra de 2013-2017 contra ISIS, mientras que los AC-208 Eliminator de la Fuerza Aerea Afgana proporcionaron despues apoyo ISR, de ataque y de designacion laser durante la fase final de la Guerra de Afganistan de 2001.

AC-208 Combat Caravan, Aeronave ISR armada y de ataque ligero, Aeronaves y UAV
Image source: Iraqi Cessna AC-208

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Estados Unidos
Type
Aeronave ISR armada y de ataque ligero
Service note
Servicio iraqui desde 2008; empleo en combate documentado desde enero de 2014
Designer
Celula Cessna; conversion de mision ATK/Orbital ATK
Designed
El Cessna Caravan volo por primera vez en 1982; la conversion armada AC-208 fue entregada a Irak desde 2008
Unit cost
El paquete DSCA de 2016 para dos aeronaves y apoyo se estimo en 65,3 millones de dolares
Produced
La familia Cessna 208 se produce desde la decada de 1980; las conversiones AC-208 siguieron bajo programas estadounidenses de asistencia de seguridad
Number built
Irak compro originalmente tres aeronaves AC-208 y tres C-208 en 2008, con dos aeronaves AC-208 adicionales solicitadas en 2016

Specifications

Tripulacion
Piloto mas operador de sistemas de mision o tripulacion aerea segun configuracion
Armamento
Capacidad para misiles AGM-114 Hellfire; configuraciones AC-208 posteriores pueden integrar cohetes guiados de 2,75 pulgadas
Sensores
Sistema electro-optico/infrarrojo de imagen y designacion; el paquete DSCA para Irak de 2016 enumero equipos EO/IR AN/AAQ-35
Equipo de lanzamiento
El paquete DSCA para Irak de 2016 enumero capacidad de lanzadores Hellfire LAU-131 de doble riel en cada ala
Equipo de autoproteccion
El paquete DSCA para Irak de 2016 enumero dispensadores de contramedidas AN/ALE-47 y equipos de alerta de lanzamiento de misiles AN/AAR-60
Celula
Turbohelice monomotor Cessna 208 Caravan de ala alta con tren de aterrizaje fijo
Dimensiones
Base Cessna Caravan: 37 ft 7 in de longitud, 52 ft 1 in de envergadura, 14 ft 10 in de altura
Prestaciones
Base Cessna Caravan: velocidad maxima de crucero de 186 ktas, alcance maximo de 1.070 nm, altitud maxima operativa de 25.000 ft
Planta motriz
Turbohelice Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A en la base Cessna Caravan
Mission System Fit

El paquete AC-208 conserva la base de aeronave utilitaria de campo corto del Caravan, pero convierte la aeronave en una pequena plataforma ISR armada. Las fuentes publicas destacan una configuracion de sensor a tirador mas que una carga pesada de ataque.

Celula

Turbohelice monomotor Cessna 208 Caravan de ala alta con tren fijo y raices de utilidad en campos austeros.

Sistemas de mision

Sensor electro-optico/infrarrojo, consola de operador de sistemas de mision, comunicaciones tacticas, enlaces de datos de video e integracion de control de fuego a bordo.

Configuracion de ataque

El paquete iraqui de 2016 enumero capacidad de lanzadores Hellfire LAU-131 de doble riel en cada ala; Northrop Grumman tambien anuncia opciones de cohetes guiados de 2,75 pulgadas para la configuracion Eliminator.

Nicho operativo

La aeronave esta mejor documentada como plataforma de bajo costo para reconocimiento armado y apoyo cercano en contrainsurgencia, vigilancia superior y ataques contra blancos puntuales.

Variants

Las fuentes publicas emplean varias designaciones de Caravan armadas o adaptadas para misiones alrededor de la misma base Cessna 208; esta entrada cubre el AC-208 Combat Caravan y senala conversiones armadas y polivalentes estrechamente relacionadas.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
AC-208B Armed CaravanConversion de Caravan armada adaptada para mision

El comunicado de Northrop Grumman sobre la Fuerza Aerea Libanesa describe las aeronaves AC-208B Armed Caravan como Cessna Grand Caravan convertidos con sensores electro-opticos, comunicaciones tacticas, enlaces de datos de video, consola de operador de sistemas de mision, equipos de autoproteccion, puntos duros alares y capacidad de ataque de precision Hellfire.

Sources: NGC Celebrates Ten Years with Lebanese Air Force

AC-208 EliminatorConfiguracion de reconocimiento y ataque terrestre de Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman describe el AC-208 Eliminator como una evolucion del AC-208 Armed Caravan que porta misiles AGM-114 Hellfire o cohetes guiados de 2,75 pulgadas para misiones de reconocimiento, vigilancia superior y ataque de contrainsurgencia.

Sources: Northrop Grumman Special Mission Aircraft

MC-208 GuardianDerivado polivalente adyacente del Cessna Caravan

MAG Aerospace presenta el MC-208 Guardian como una aeronave polivalente basada en el Cessna Caravan que combina funciones de ISR, movilidad aerea, CASEVAC/MEDEVAC y ataque de precision, con certificacion SEEK EAGLE para cargas AGM-114, APKWS e Hydra 70.

Sources: Special Mission Aircraft Capabilities - MC-208 Guardian

Municiones transportadas

Northrop Grumman documenta que el AC-208 puede portar misiles AGM-114 Hellfire y cohetes guiados de 2,75 pulgadas.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
AGM-114 Hellfire missile family, Air-to-surface missile family, MunitionsAGM-114 Hellfire missile familyFamilia de misiles aire-superficie

Northrop Grumman afirma que el AC-208 Armed Caravan puede configurarse con una carga de misiles AGM-114 Hellfire, y U.S. Air Forces Central informo que tripulaciones iraquies cargaron y lanzaron AGM-114 Hellfire desde aeronaves AC-208.

Sources: Northrop Grumman Special Mission Aircraft, IqAF edges closer to joint integration after Hellfire missile test, Iraqi Air Force achieves milestone with Hellfire missile shot

APKWS / WGU-59 guided rockets, Guided rocket munition family, MunitionsAPKWS / WGU-59 guided rocketsFamilia de municiones de cohetes guiados

Northrop Grumman afirma que el AC-208 Eliminator puede atacar blancos con cohetes guiados de 2,75 pulgadas como parte de su carga ofensiva.

Sources: Northrop Grumman Special Mission Aircraft

Timeline

AC-208 Combat Caravan Key Events

  1. Irak compra las primeras aeronaves AC-208

    DSCA informo posteriormente que Irak compro originalmente tres aeronaves AC-208 y tres C-208 en 2008.

    Sources: Republic of Iraq - AC-208 Aircraft

  2. Tripulaciones iraquies realizan el segundo lanzamiento de Hellfire

    Informes del Ejercito de Estados Unidos y DVIDS describieron un AC-208 de la Fuerza Aerea Iraqui disparando un misil Hellfire en el Aziziyah Training Range durante un ejercicio de ataque de precision dirigido por Irak.

    Sources: Iraqi Air Force launches Hellfire missile with precision

  3. Debut en combate en Anbar

    DVIDS e informes contemporaneos situan el debut en combate del AC-208 en enero de 2014, cuando tripulaciones iraquies emplearon la aeronave contra insurgentes en la provincia de Anbar, incluidos ataques reportados en torno a Faluya y Ramadi.

    Sources: Coalition JTACs raise Air Week off the ground, Iraqi Air Force Combat Caravan planes Bomb Al-Qaeda Bases in Fallujah

  4. Notificado paquete adicional de AC-208 para Irak

    DSCA notifico al Congreso un posible paquete para Irak de 65,3 millones de dolares por dos aeronaves AC-208 adicionales con lanzadores Hellfire, equipos EO/IR, sistemas de autoproteccion, modificaciones, repuestos, entrenamiento y apoyo.

    Sources: Republic of Iraq - AC-208 Aircraft

  5. AC-208 iraqui aun activo en Balad

    Una imagen de DVIDS de Air Week en la Base Aerea de Balad mostro un AC-208 del Squadron 3 iraqui preparandose para una mision de apoyo aereo cercano.

    Sources: Coalition JTACs raise Air Week off the ground

Media

AC-208 Combat Caravan Videos

AC-208 Combat Caravan Images

AC-208 Combat Caravan, Aeronave ISR armada y de ataque ligero, Aeronaves y UAV - view 1
Source: Iraqi Air Force celebrates 78th Anniversary
AC-208 Combat Caravan, Aeronave ISR armada y de ataque ligero, Aeronaves y UAV - view 2
Source: Coalition JTACs raise Air Week off the ground
AC-208 Combat Caravan, Aeronave ISR armada y de ataque ligero, Aeronaves y UAV - view 3
Source: Coalition JTACs raise Air Week off the ground
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Sources

Northrop Grumman Special Mission AircraftPublisher: Northrop Grumman | Note: Supports AC-208 armed Caravan background, manufacturer lineage, reconnaissance and ground-attack role, and Hellfire or guided-rocket payload context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Cessna Caravan SpecificationsPublisher: Textron Aviation | Note: Supports baseline Cessna Caravan airframe dimensions, engine, range, cruise speed, payload, and altitude specifications used for the AC-208 airframe context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Republic of Iraq - AC-208 AircraftPublisher: Defense Security Cooperation Agency | Note: Supports 2013 War in Iraq direct conflict use: AC/C-208 aircraft used by Iraq to support operations against al-Qaeda affiliate and ISIL forces, plus the 2008 Iraqi purchase, 2016 request for additional AC-208 aircraft, listed mission equipment, and Orbital ATK principal-contractor context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Iraqi Air Force Combat Caravan planes Bomb Al-Qaeda Bases in FallujahPublisher: The Aviationist | Note: Supports 2013 War in Iraq direct conflict use: AC-208 aircraft used by the Iraqi Air Force in January 2014 strikes around Fallujah and Ramadi against ISIS or al-Qaeda-linked militants. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Coalition JTACs raise Air Week off the groundPublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Supports image provenance for the primary AC-208 photograph and 2013 War in Iraq direct conflict use by noting the aircraft was fielded by the Iraqi Air Force from its January 2014 Anbar combat debut. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Iraqi Cessna AC-208Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for an Iraqi AC-208 Combat Caravan assigned to Squadron 3. | Accessed: 2026-07-04IqAF edges closer to joint integration after Hellfire missile testPublisher: U.S. Air Forces Central | Note: Supports background, Hellfire integration, Iraqi Squadron 3 operation, and public-domain image provenance for AC-208 missile loading and launch imagery. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Iraqi Air Force achieves milestone with Hellfire missile shotPublisher: U.S. Air Forces Central | Note: Supports AC-208 Hellfire launch reporting and identifies the aircraft as the launch platform. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Iraqi Air Force celebrates 78th AnniversaryPublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for an Iraqi Air Force static display including an AC208 Combat Caravan. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Iraqi Air Force conducts first solo Hellfire missile launchPublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for Iraqi Air Force AC-208 Hellfire loading imagery during March 2011 training. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Iraqi Air Force launches Hellfire missile imagePublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for an Iraqi Air Force AC-208 Hellfire launch at Aziziyah Training Range on 2010-11-08. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Iraqi Air Force launches Hellfire missile with precisionPublisher: United States Army | Note: Supports Iraqi AC-208 Hellfire training and integration context, including the November 2010 Iraqi Air Force precision-engagement launch at Aziziyah Training Range. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - December 2019Publisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Directly supports 2001 War in Afghanistan conflict use: Afghan Air Force AC-208 Eliminators provided ISR and strike capabilities for ANDSF ground and air operations, used APKWS precision rockets, and supported A-29 missions with laser designation after arrival in Kabul in February 2019. | Accessed: 2026-07-04NGC Celebrates Ten Years with Lebanese Air ForcePublisher: ASDNews | Note: Republishes Northrop Grumman release details on AC-208B and RC-208B Lebanese Air Force missionized Caravan variants, sensor fit, datalinks, operator console, self-protection equipment, wing hardpoints, and Hellfire strike capability. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Special Mission Aircraft Capabilities - MC-208 GuardianPublisher: MAG Aerospace | Note: Supports MC-208 Guardian adjacent-variant context, multi-role mission set, hardpoint limits, endurance claim, and SEEK EAGLE certification for APKWS, Hydra 70, and AGM-114 stores. | Accessed: 2026-07-04