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KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (4/2/2012) - A modified KC-130J
flies over Afghanistan ready to unleash a tremendous amount of
firepower for the Marines it supports.
After a 10-hour flight, the Harvest Hawk sits on the runway at
Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, March 26, 2012. The modified KC-130J
is staffed with officers who have experience conducting
close-air-support, is equipped with Hellfire and Griffin missiles,
and is ready to support ground troops at a moment's notice. Read
more: Photo by USMC Cpl. Isaac Lambert |
Equipped to fire Hellfire and Griffin missiles, the
aircraft known as the Harvest Hawk, provides
close-air-support (CAS) for Marines conducting ground
operations.
“We can give the commander on the ground
peace of mind knowing he has these assets in the sky,” said
Capt. Dusty Cook, a pilot for the Harvest Hawk.
Cook,
a native of East Bernard, Texas, said the aircraft has
several elements that distinguish it from other CAS
platforms, and have made it highly successful.
He
explained that Hellfire and Griffin missiles are ready for
every mission along with a sophisticated camera which both
guides them and scans for insurgent activity.
“When
you put all these things together you get a very deadly
system,” he said. “We give the ground commander more
precision munitions than any other plane, next to a bomber.
Helicopters and fighters [planes] are good, but they do not
carry the number of missiles we do and cannot stay in the
sky the amount of time that we can.”
Cook said the
aircraft's extended flight time allows it to stay aloft long
after other attack aircraft have left because of the need to
refuel, giving ground forces precision fire power for
extended periods of time.
Cpl. Tom Wicklow, a crew
chief with the Harvest Hawk, said another key element to the
success of the plane is the tremendous coordination between
Marines on the ground and the crew in the air.
“We're
all in contact with what's going on,” said Wicklow of
Morristown, N.J. “When the guys on the ground call us, it's
put on the internal communication system so everyone can
hear and understand what is going on,” he said.
“When
you hear those gun shots in the background and the Marines
returning fire with the urgency in their voices, it really
gets the blood pumping knowing that their lives depend on
you,” Wicklow added.
When a commander on the ground
needs air support, a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC)
sends the request to the Direct Air Support Center (DASC),
which then puts the JTAC in direct contact with the Harvest
Hawk.
The pilots and Fire Control Officers (FCOs) of
the Harvest Hawk crew have served with ground units as JTACs
and understand firsthand the need for efficient and accurate
communication. This unique pairing adds a new dynamic to the
battlefield.
Additionally, the FCO's who control the
weapon systems on the plane have flown in other CAS
platforms. They have been specifically selected because of
their experience with AV-8B Harriers, F/A-18 Hornets or
AH-1W Cobras.
Capt. Michael Wyrsch, an AV-8B Harrier
pilot and an FCO for the Harvest Hawk, explained that his
experiences as an attack pilot have been very beneficial.
“Giving close-air-support helped me understand what the
guys on the ground are looking for,” said Wyrsch of Silver
Spring, Md.
Cook said the Harvest Hawk can still
perform the duties of a regular KC-130J, such as battlefield
illumination and tanking, however, its primary mission is to
support ground forces with the aircraft's sensor and deadly
weapons.
Cook said the main mission of the Harvest
Hawk is not air refueling or battlefield illumination, it is
to unleash massive amounts of firepower whenever and
wherever ground troops need it.
By USMC Cpl. Isaac Lamberth
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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