Arming the KC-130: Filling a Capability Gap or Creating a New One

摘要

Thesis: Adapting the KC-130 with the ISR weapons mission kit will fulfill a current capability gap and produce both immediate and long term consequences. Despite these challenges, filling this capability gap can be done without creating any future gaps. Discussion: The Marine Corps' desire to acquire the AC-130 is not new. In years past, the acquisition has proved a bridge too far for a variety of reasons. However, current operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq have reignited the debate. The dispersed nature in which Marine units are deployed makes their long supply lines vulnerable to attack. Protecting these highly dispersed units requires assets with a persistent overwatch capability like the AC-130. While acquiring the AC-130 does not make sense for the Marine Corps, another alternative is to outfit the current fleet of KC-130's with both weapons and sensors to fill this role. This was the thought process which drove the Urgent Universal Needs Statement and ultimately the development of the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) weapons mission kit for the KC-130. This ISR weapons mission kit will utilize the KC-130 advantages of endurance and payload capacity to produce an 'AC-130 like' capability for the Marine Air Ground Task Force Commander at a fraction of the AC-130 cost. While arming the KC-130 has the potential to be a tremendous force multiplier, it will come at a price. Near term effects are significant but not insurmountable. Long term effects have the potential to change the scope of how the KC-130's are utilized. Conclusion: The ISR weapons mission kit would fill a capability gap in Marine Corps Aviation. Despite the multitude of obstacles, this capability is worth the effort and will help posture the Marine Corps for future contingencies.