Aeronaves y UAV

MC-130J Commando II

Also known as
  • MC-130J
  • Commando II
  • MC-130J Commando II
  • Combat Shadow II
  • Combat Talon III

El MC-130J Commando II es el transporte y cisterna estadounidense de operaciones especiales de Lockheed Martin para misiones de infiltración, exfiltración, reabastecimiento y reabastecimiento en vuelo a baja cota. Fuentes de la Air Force documentan misiones de reabastecimiento en Afganistán, su entrada en servicio en 2011, cuatro turbohélices Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 y la relación del tipo con el entrenamiento de lanzamiento aéreo de la GBU-43/B MOAB.

MC-130J Commando II, Avión de transporte de operaciones especiales, Aeronaves y UAV
Image source: 522d Special Operations Squadron - MC-130J Commando II.jpg

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Estados Unidos
Type
Avión de transporte de operaciones especiales
Service note
Producción 2011-2024; en servicio
Unit cost
$114,2M (FY22)
Produced
2011-2024
Developed from
C-130J Super Hercules

Specifications

Función principal
Infiltración, exfiltración, reabastecimiento y reabastecimiento en vuelo para fuerzas de operaciones especiales
Planta motriz
Cuatro turbohélices Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3
Potencia
4.591 caballos de fuerza al eje por motor
Tripulación
2 pilotos, 1 oficial de sistemas de combate y 2 aviadores de misión especial
Velocidad
Alrededor de 300 nudos
Alcance
Aproximadamente 3.000 millas
Peso máximo al despegue
164.000 libras
Dimensiones
Longitud 97 pies 9 pulgadas (29,3 metros); envergadura 132 pies 7 pulgadas (39,7 metros); altura 38 pies 10 pulgadas (11,8 metros)
Special Operations Mission Systems

El Commando II está construido en torno a la movilidad de operaciones especiales, no al transporte aéreo táctico general. Las fichas informativas de la Air Force destacan infiltración, exfiltración y reabastecimiento nocturnos y con baja visibilidad, reabastecimiento en vuelo de helicópteros y aeronaves de rotor basculante, y operaciones en zonas políticamente sensibles u hostiles.

Puesto de tripulación y aviónica

El MC-130J usa un puesto de pilotaje avanzado, aviónica y navegación digitales integradas, y un puesto adicional de oficial de sistemas de combate para trabajo de misión especial.

Función de reabastecimiento

Los tanques externos montados en las alas y los pods de cesta permiten al avión reabastecer helicópteros de operaciones especiales y aeronaves de rotor basculante, mientras que el MC-130J también puede recibir combustible en vuelo.

Modernización Combat Talon III

Air & Space Forces describe la ruta de modernización Combat Talon III como la adición de radar de seguimiento/evitación del terreno, contramedidas de radiofrecuencia y redes de misión aerotransportadas.

Variants

El MC-130J entró en servicio con el nombre popular Combat Shadow II antes de que AFSOC cambiara la denominación a Commando II en 2012. Air & Space Forces describe Combat Talon III como la configuración mejorada del MC-130J con radar de seguimiento/evitación del terreno, contramedidas de radiofrecuencia y redes de misión aerotransportadas.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
MC-130J Combat Talon IIIConfiguración modernizada del MC-130J

Air & Space Forces identifica Combat Talon III como el MC-130J mejorado con radar TF/TA, contramedidas de radiofrecuencia y redes de misión aerotransportadas para penetración a baja cota y respuesta ante amenazas.

Sources: MC-130J Commando II/COMBAT TALON III

Municiones lanzadas desde el aire

La cobertura de la Air Force y DVIDS vincula al MC-130J Commando II con el entrenamiento y las pruebas de lanzamiento aéreo de la GBU-43/B MOAB.

Launched itemItem typeLaunch evidence
GBU-43/B MOAB, GPS/INS-guided massive ordnance air blast bomb, MunitionsGBU-43/B MOABBomba de explosión aérea de munición masiva

La cobertura de DVIDS afirma que el MC-130J Commando II es el primer avión que lanzó la GBU-43/B MOAB, y el manual de entrenamiento del MC-130J incluye procedimientos de lanzamiento aéreo de la GBU-43.

Sources: Behind the Boom, AFMAN 11-2MC-130J, Vol 1

Sistemas de lanzamiento aéreo compatibles

Los manuales del MC-130J de la Air Force documentan procedimientos del Joint Precision Air Drop System y eventos de certificación para tripulaciones del Commando II.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
Joint Precision Air Drop System, GPS-guided airdrop system with steerable parachute bundles, Support EquipmentJoint Precision Air Drop SystemSistema de lanzamiento aéreo de precisión guiado por GPS

AFMAN 11-2MC-130J Vol. 1 enumera JPADS/I-CDS como un evento del MC-130J certificado por instructor, y el Vol. 3 incluye procedimientos JPADS del MC-130J.

Sources: AFMAN 11-2MC-130J, Vol 1, AFMAN 11-2MC-130J, Vol 3

Timeline

MC-130J Commando II Key Events

  1. Primer vuelo del MC-130J

    Air & Space Forces enumera el 20 de abril de 2011 como la fecha del primer vuelo del MC-130J.

    Sources: MC-130J Commando II/COMBAT TALON III

  2. Primer avión llega a Cannon AFB

    Informes de la Air Force indican que el primer MC-130J llegó a Cannon Air Force Base el 29 de septiembre de 2011, iniciando la transición operativa del tipo.

    Sources: Air Force changes name of MC-130J

  3. Se anuncia el nombre Commando II

    AFSOC anunció el cambio de nombre popular de Combat Shadow II a Commando II para reflejar la función multi-misión de operaciones especiales del avión.

    Sources: Air Force changes name of MC-130J

  4. Primer despliegue en Afganistán

    AFSOC afirma que el primer MC-130J desplegado fue a Afganistán en marzo de 2013 y apoyó allí cientos de misiones de movilidad.

    Sources: AFSOC accepts final MC-130J

  5. Ceremonia de entrega final de producción

    AFSOC marcó la entrega final de producción del MC-130J en Marietta, Georgia, cerrando la fase de producción del esfuerzo de recapitalización Commando II del comando.

    Sources: AFSOC accepts final MC-130J

Media

MC-130J Commando II Images

MC-130J Commando II, Avión de transporte de operaciones especiales, Aeronaves y UAV - view 1
Source: Lockheed Martin MC-130J Commando II (34814595634).jpg
MC-130J Commando II, Avión de transporte de operaciones especiales, Aeronaves y UAV - view 2
Source: Lockheed Martin MC-130J Commando II (34846612943).jpg
MC-130J Commando II, Avión de transporte de operaciones especiales, Aeronaves y UAV - view 3
Source: MC-130J Commando II - RIAT 2016 (30359171162).jpg
Related Weapon Systems
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GBU-43/B MOAB, GPS/INS-guided massive ordnance air blast bomb, MunitionsMunitionsGBU-43/B MOABGPS/INS-guided massive ordnance air blast bombThe GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast, widely known as MOAB or the "Mother of All Bombs," is a very large U.S. GPS/INS-guided conventional bomb developed rapidly by the Air Force Research Laboratory with Dynetics support. It uses a BLU-120/B high-explosive body, tail and grid-fin control, and cargo-aircraft ramp deployment rather than fighter carriage. Its only documented combat use was the April 13, 2017 U.S. strike on an ISIS-K tunnel complex in Afghanistan, where commanders selected its blast effect to reduce obstacles facing Afghan and U.S. clearing forces.
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Sources

MC-130J Commando II (AFSOC)Publisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports MC-130J background, special-operations transport and tanker role, crew, range, dimensions, power plant, speed, unit cost, service history, and the final aircraft acceptance context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02MC-130J Commando II | Lockheed MartinPublisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports manufacturer context and the MC-130J's special-mission transport and aerial-refueling role. | Accessed: 2026-07-02AFSOC accepts final MC-130JPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the December 2024 final-handover milestone and directly documents the MC-130J's March 2013 Afghanistan deployment, mission count, flight hours, passenger movement, and cargo moved during the 2001 War in Afghanistan. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Distinguished Flying Cross awarded for heroism in actionPublisher: Air Force Special Operations Command | Note: Directly supports the 2001 War in Afghanistan conflict-use row by documenting an MC-130J Commando II crew conducting a Jan. 5, 2016 resupply airdrop for U.S. and coalition special operations forces in Helmand Province while under enemy fire. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Air Force changes name of MC-130JPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the Commando II name-change date, previous Combat Shadow II popular name, Cannon AFB arrival date, and special-operations mission framing. | Accessed: 2026-07-02MC-130J Commando II/COMBAT TALON IIIPublisher: Air & Space Forces Magazine | Note: Supports first-flight and IOC dates, Combat Talon III modernization context, refueling equipment, mission systems, and additional technical data. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Behind the BoomPublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Supports the MC-130J Commando II relationship to the GBU-43/B MOAB as the first aircraft to ever drop it. | Accessed: 2026-07-02AFMAN 11-2MC-130J, Vol 1Publisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports MC-130J GBU-43 and JPADS/I-CDS airdrop procedures and training context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02AFMAN 11-2MC-130J, Vol 3Publisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports MC-130J operational procedures for Joint Precision Air Drop System employment. | Accessed: 2026-07-02522d Special Operations Squadron - MC-130J Commando II.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for the primary MC-130J image. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Lockheed Martin MC-130J Commando II (34814595634).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for the gallery image showing the MC-130J in flight. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Lockheed Martin MC-130J Commando II (34846612943).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for the gallery image of the MC-130J on the ground. | Accessed: 2026-06-27MC-130J Commando II - RIAT 2016 (30359171162).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for the gallery image of the MC-130J during operations. | Accessed: 2026-06-27