Air & Space Forces Magazine reported that U.S. CSAR teams in the Middle East were equipped with HC-130J Combat King II aircraft during the April 2026 recovery effort after an F-15E was downed over Iran.
Aircraft & UAVs
HC-130J Combat King II
Also known as
- HC-130J
- Combat King II
- HC-130J Combat Rescue Tanker
The HC-130J Combat King II is Lockheed Martin's C-130J-derived U.S. Air Force rescue and helicopter-refueling aircraft. Developed under the HC/MC-130 recapitalization program, it replaced the HC-130P/N King as the service's only dedicated fixed-wing personnel recovery platform, with night-vision-compatible systems, defensive aids, forward-looking infrared, radar and missile-warning receivers, UARRSI aerial-refueling reception, and mission communications for combat search-and-rescue, disaster response, emergency aeromedical evacuation, airdrop, airland, and forward-area refueling work.
Role in Conflicts
Official U.S. Air Force and DVIDS material documents HC-130J Combat King II aircraft with deployed U.S. rescue forces in the Horn of Africa area of responsibility, including casualty-evacuation support and personnel/cargo movement where no more precise catalog conflict is yet supported.
Profile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- United States
- Built by
- Lockheed Martin
- Type
- Fixed-wing personnel recovery and helicopter air-to-air refueling aircraft
- Service note
- 2010-present; in USAF service since 2013
- Designer
- Lockheed Martin
- Designed
- HC/MC-130 recapitalization program; first flight in 2010
- Unit cost
- $66 million (fiscal 2010 replacement cost)
- Produced
- 2010-present
- Developed from
- KC-130J Hercules, C-130J Super Hercules
Specifications
- Primary function
- Fixed-wing personnel recovery platform
- Crew
- Three officers and two enlisted loadmasters
- Power plant
- Four Rolls-Royce AE2100D3 turboprop engines
- Thrust
- 4,591 propeller shaft horsepower per engine
- Wingspan
- 132 feet, 7 inches (40.4 meters)
- Length
- 97 feet, 9 inches (29.57 meters)
- Height
- 38 feet, 9 inches (11.58 meters)
- Operating weight
- 89,000 pounds (40,369 kilograms)
- Maximum takeoff weight
- 164,000 pounds (74,389 kilograms)
- Payload
- 35,000 pounds (15,875 kilograms)
- Speed
- 316 knots indicated airspeed at sea level
- Range
- Beyond 4,000 miles (3,478 nautical miles)
- Ceiling
- 33,000 feet (10,000 meters)
- Fuel capacity
- 61,360 pounds (9,024 gallons)
- Armament
- Countermeasures, flares, and chaff
- Aerial refueling
- Refuels helicopters at night with up to two simultaneous receivers; can also receive fuel inflight through UARRSI
- Mission systems
- NVG-compatible lighting, integrated inertial/GPS navigation, forward-looking infrared, radar and missile-warning receivers, chaff and flare dispensers, satellite and data-burst communications
- Recent communications upgrades
- SACU suite, Link 16, and 2026 hybrid satellite communications for multi-orbit SATCOM connectivity
Rescue-Tanker Mission Fit
The Combat King II packages a C-130J-family airframe around fixed-wing personnel recovery and helicopter support rather than general airlift alone.
Recovery role
Rapid deployment to austere airfields and denied territory for recovery operations, airdrop, airland, and forward-area ground refueling.
Helicopter support
Night helicopter air-to-air refueling can support up to two simultaneous receiver helicopters under blacked-out communications procedures.
Survivability fit
Forward-looking infrared, radar and missile-warning receivers, chaff and flare dispensers, NVG-compatible lighting, and low-to-medium-altitude night tactics support contested or sensitive operations.
Communications path
ACC identifies SACU, Link 16, and hybrid satellite communications as Combat King II connectivity upgrades.
Sources: HC-130J Combat King II (U.S. Air Force); Air Combat Command declares FOC for the HC-130J Combat King II.
Variants
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
 | Baseline transport family | Air Force sources describe the HC-130J as an extended-range C-130J Hercules derivative built for personnel recovery rather than a clean-sheet aircraft. |
 | Tanker-transport derivative | The Air Force fact sheet identifies the HC-130J as a modified KC-130J adapted for personnel recovery, command-and-control, helicopter refueling, and supplemental-fuel carriage. |
| HC-130P/N King | Predecessor rescue aircraft | The older HC-130P/N King performed the same rescue, airdrop, helicopter-refueling, forward-area refueling, and austere-field mission set before the J-model replacement. Sources: HC-130P/N King (U.S. Air Force) |
 | HC/MC-130 recapitalization sibling | The MC-130J shares the C-130J special-mission recapitalization generation but is assigned to low-visibility special-operations infiltration, exfiltration, resupply, and refueling missions. Sources: MC-130J Commando II (U.S. Air Force) |
 | Same base designation, different operator mission fit | The Coast Guard's HC-130J Super Hercules is a long-range surveillance and maritime-patrol aircraft with missionized command, surveillance, and search-and-rescue equipment rather than the Air Force Combat King II rescue-tanker configuration. |
Refueled Rescue Aircraft
HC-130J Combat King II aircraft use helicopter air-to-air refueling to extend rescue-helicopter range; official Air Force reporting documents both legacy HH-60G and newer HH-60W receivers.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Combat rescue helicopter | Eglin AFB reported that an HH-60W Jolly Green II connected with an HC-130J tanker for the new rescue helicopter's first aerial refueling on Aug. 5, 2020. |
 | HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopter | Davis-Monthan AFB reported 79th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II aircraft training with 56th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawks in probe-and-drogue helicopter air-to-air refueling over southern Europe in November 2019. Sources: Combat Kings to the refuel |
Countermeasure Stores
| Carried item | Item type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Directional infrared countermeasure suite | The War Zone reported that LAIRCM was standard HC-130J equipment for combat-search-and-rescue operations, while the Air Force fact sheet lists missile warning receivers and countermeasure dispensers in the aircraft's mission fit. Sources: USAF Wants To Turn HC-130J's Self Defense Suite Into Sauron's Eye, HC-130J Combat King II (U.S. Air Force) |
 | Infrared decoy flare | Kirtland AFB's environmental assessment names M-206 flares as current countermeasure stores used by HC-130J aircraft. Sources: Kirtland AFB Final EA, Part 2 |
Timeline
HC-130J Combat King II Key Events
First flight
The Air Force fact sheet says the HC-130J first flew on 29 July 2010 as the rescue community's new C-130J-derived fixed-wing recovery aircraft.
Sources: HC-130J Combat King II (U.S. Air Force)
Initial operational capability
The HC-130J reached initial operational capability in 2013 and entered service as the replacement for the HC-130P/N fleet.
Sources: HC-130J Combat King II (U.S. Air Force)
Horn of Africa refueling mission
Open-source imagery documents an HC-130J refueling a U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E over Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, in support of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.
Sources: Wikimedia Commons HC-130J refuels CH-53E over Horn of Africa
Djibouti landing-zone operations
A U.S. Air Force HC-130J assigned to the 81st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron was photographed landing on an unprepared landing zone at Grand Bara, Djibouti.
Sources: Wikimedia Commons HC-130J lands at Grand Bara, Djibouti
Full operational capability declared
Air Combat Command declared the HC-130J fleet fully operationally capable, reporting that the fleet met required aircraft equipment and mission criteria without operational restrictions.
Sources: Air Combat Command declares FOC for the HC-130J Combat King II
Hybrid satellite communications upgrade reported
ACC reported a hybrid satellite communications addition for multi-orbit SATCOM connectivity, complementing the HC-130J's SACU suite and Link 16 data-flow upgrades.
Sources: Air Combat Command declares FOC for the HC-130J Combat King II
Designation Context
HC-130J entries can refer to different C-130J-family mission fits. The Air Force Combat King II is the rescue-tanker branch, distinct from the Coast Guard long-range surveillance aircraft and the special-operations MC-130J.
| Designation | Context | Distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline family | The HC-130J is an extended-range C-130J-derived rescue aircraft. |
| Tanker transport | The Air Force describes the Combat King II as a modified KC-130J adapted for recovery and helicopter-refueling missions. |
| HC-130P/N King | Predecessor | The older King performed fixed-wing rescue, airdrop, helicopter refueling, and forward-area refueling missions before replacement by the HC-130J. |
| Special operations sibling | The Commando II belongs to the same J-model special-mission generation but centers on special-operations infiltration, exfiltration, resupply, and refueling. |
| Same base designation | The Coast Guard aircraft is a long-range surveillance and maritime-patrol HC-130J, not the Air Force Combat King II configuration. |
Related Weapon Systems
Sources
HC-130J Combat King II (U.S. Air Force)Publisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the HC-130J's mission, first flight, operating units, and published specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-04F-15E Downed over Iran, A-10 Crashes in RegionPublisher: Air & Space Forces Magazine | Note: Directly supports the 2026 Iran War row: a U.S. F-15E downed over Iran triggered an April 2026 CSAR effort, and deployed U.S. CSAR teams in the Middle East were equipped with HC-130J Combat King II aircraft and HH-60 helicopters. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Rescue force successfully saves two in first HH-60W combat CASEVAC in Africa AORPublisher: Air Combat Command | Note: Directly supports the 2015 Various Conflicts holding row: deployed U.S. rescue assets in the Horn of Africa included HC-130J recovery aircraft, and HC-130Js moved the most seriously wounded member for further treatment. | Accessed: 2026-07-0481st ERQS conducts routine flight operations with HOA AORPublisher: DVIDS | Note: Directly supports the 2015 Various Conflicts holding row: an HC-130J Combat King II assigned to the 81st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron conducted routine cargo and personnel movement across the Horn of Africa area of responsibility on Oct. 11, 2022. | Accessed: 2026-07-04USAF Wants To Turn HC-130J's Self Defense Suite Into Sauron's EyePublisher: The War Zone | Note: Supports HC-130J self-defense-suite context, including reporting that LAIRCM was standard equipment for HC-130J combat-search-and-rescue operations. | Accessed: 2026-07-04HC-130J Combat King II (Lockheed Martin)Publisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports manufacturer context and the product description of the HC-130J Combat King II as the U.S. Air Force's dedicated fixed-wing personnel recovery platform. | Accessed: 2026-07-04HC-130J Combat King II feature pagePublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports the HC-130J's operational mission, including rapid recovery operations, airdrop, airland, helicopter air-to-air refueling, forward-area ground refueling, and humanitarian assistance tasking. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Air Combat Command declares FOC for the HC-130J Combat King IIPublisher: Air Combat Command | Note: Supports the April 2026 full operational capability declaration, ACC's statement that HC-130J has supported major combat operations since 2013, and the SACU, Link 16, and hybrid satellite communications upgrade context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04HC-130P/N King (U.S. Air Force)Publisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports predecessor designation context for the HC-130P/N King rescue aircraft mission set and its relationship to later HC-130J replacement context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04MC-130J Commando II (U.S. Air Force)Publisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports adjacent C-130J special-mission designation context for the MC-130J Commando II and its infiltration, exfiltration, resupply, and refueling mission set. | Accessed: 2026-07-04HC-130J Long Range Surveillance AircraftPublisher: U.S. Coast Guard | Note: Supports designation context distinguishing the Coast Guard HC-130J Super Hercules long-range surveillance and maritime-patrol aircraft from the Air Force Combat King II configuration. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Wikimedia Commons HC-130J Combat King II at NellisPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for the primary HC-130J Combat King II image. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Wikimedia Commons HC-130J refuels CH-53E over Horn of AfricaPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for the Horn of Africa aerial refueling image. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Wikimedia Commons HC-130J lands at Grand Bara, DjiboutiPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for the Djibouti landing-zone image. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Wikimedia Commons HC-130J aerial refueling during Angel Thunder 2013Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for the Angel Thunder 2013 aerial refueling image. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Jolly Green II begins aerial refueling testsPublisher: Eglin Air Force Base | Note: Supports the HH-60W Jolly Green II first aerial-refueling connection with an HC-130J tanker on Aug. 5, 2020, and public-domain image provenance for the HH-60W refueling gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Combat Kings to the refuelPublisher: Davis-Monthan Air Force Base | Note: Supports HC-130J Combat King II probe-and-drogue helicopter air-to-air refueling with HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters over southern Europe in November 2019. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Kirtland AFB Final EA, Part 2Publisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the M-206 flares used by HC-130J aircraft as current countermeasure stores in the Kirtland AFB environmental assessment. | Accessed: 2026-07-04