Военно-транспортные самолеты King Air: C-12 Huron и модификации

Military staff and utility transport aircraft series of the King Air family

The Beechcraft C 12 Huron is the military designation for a series of twin engine turboprop aircraft based on the Beechcraft Super King Air and Beechcraft 1900. C 12 variants are used by the United States Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps. These aircraft are used for various duties, including embassy support, medical evacuation, as well as passenger and light cargo transport. Some aircraft are modified with surveillance systems for various missions, including the Cefly Lancer, Beechcraft RC 12 Guardrail and Project Liberty programs.

The first C 12A models entered service with the U. S. Army in 1974 and were used as a liaison and general personnel transport. The aircraft was essentially an "off the shelf" Super King Air 200, powered by the type's standard Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A 41 engines. The U. S. Navy followed suit in 1979, ordering a version of the Super King Air A200C (modified with a 1.32 m by 1.32 m; 52 inch by 52 inch cargo door from the Super King Air 200C), designating it the UC 12B, for logistics support between Naval and Marine Corps air stations, air facilities, and other activities, both in CONUS and overseas. The cabin can readily accommodate cargo, passengers or both. It is also equipped to accept litter patients in medical evacuation missions. Through 1982, the Navy ordered 64 of these aircraft. As of 2013 the Liberty program had exceeded 300,000 combat flying hours. The MC 12W was rushed into combat as a supplemental surveillance and signals intelligence asset. Since its first combat mission on 10 June 2009, the aircraft flew 400,000 combat hours in 79,000 combat sorties, aiding in the kill or capture of "more than 8,000 terrorists" and uncovering 650 weapons caches. With its roles taken over by the growing MQ 9 Reaper fleet, the Air Force decided to divest itself of the 41 Liberty aircraft and turn them over to the U. S. Army and U. S. Special Operations Command, which was completed by October 2015. The Air Force's final MC 12W deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom ended on 13 October 2015.

To meet the needs of transporting larger groups, the U. S. Army purchased six C 12J aircraft, based on the Beechcraft 1900C commuter airliner. One of the military C 12Js is used for GPS jamming tests at the 586th Flight Test Squadron, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. Another is based at the 517th Airlift Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. Three were based at the 55th Airlift Flight, Osan Air Base, South Korea. They have been relocated to the 459th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan. The remaining two are used by U. S. Army Aviation.

MARSS MULTI INT ISR platform. The MARSS provides the commander with a multi intelligence collection capability to accurately detect, identify, and report threat targets in near real time. IMINT, COMINT and ELINT intercept capability. As of June 2010, 11 MARSS were created from outfitted Beechcraft King Air B 300 aircraft.

C 12S U. S. Army version based on the King Air 350, with seating for 8 to 15 passengers and quick cargo conversion capability. MC 12WUSAF version modified for the Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) role; originally 8 King Air 350s and 29 King Air 350ERs and ending with 42 350ERs (including one combat loss). In service since June 2009 in Iraq and Afghanistan and globally for USSOCOM. All aircraft were transferred to USSOCOM, US Army, and other US government agencies by 2015. The Royal Canadian Air Force ordered 3 similar, if not exact, variants. UC 12W U. S. Marine Corps version based on the King Air 350
MC 12S (EMARSS S) U. S. Army nomenclature for the modified MC 12W aircraft. EMARSS

C 12J Used by the U. S. Air Force's Pacific Air Forces, and Air Force Materiel Command. It carries 2 crew and 19 passengers. The C 12J is based on the Beechcraft 1900C and carries the serials UD 1 through UD 6. The Air Force currently operates only 4 C 12Js. 3 are operated by the 459th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan and 1 by the Air Force Materiel Command from Holloman AFB, New Mexico. The Army has C 12Js in use.

The following RC 12 variants, although similar to earlier RC 12s based on the KA 200, combined upgraded engines (1,100 shp PT6A 67) up to as high as 16,500 lbs). RC 12K SIGINT aircraft for US Army based on King Air A200CT, with PT 6A 67 engines driving four bladed propellers and with increased ( max take off weight. Fitted with Guardrail/Common Sensor System 4 system. Nine built. RC 12P SIGINT aircraft for US Army based on King Air A200CT/C 12F airframe with PT 6A 67 engines driving four bladed propellers and max take off weight. Fitted with Guardrail/Common Sensor System 2 system. 9 built. RC 12X, X+ Intelligence gathering platform. 14 ordered, the first delivered to the U. S. Army in January 2011. Note: The U. S. military also operates other King Air versions under other designations, including the C 6 Ute and T 44 series. In addition, there are a number of Beechcraft 1900s operated by the military under civilian registrations, using their civilian model designations.