Dutch Herc Rails

[757flyer]

Can't recall seeing the wingtip rails worn by this Dutch Stretch Herc:

 

 

Are the rails an ECM/RWR/Self-Defense system?

 

Thanks!

Mike

 

 

[Space Ranger]

I have it on good authority that those "rails" are actually antennae for the Raytheon-duMont Turboencabulator System.😁

 

Seriously, here's a more plausible explanation, from a friend who is the former USAF C-130 Field Training Manager:

 

"Even though I've never seen that thing before, I still might get in dutch
for revealing this, but...  It looks like an antenna array ECM.  Note the
dielectric material at each end.

 

"A few years ago Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and maybe others pooled their
resources to participate in the NATO-Russian Open Skies treaty allowing
nuclear compliance overflights through signatories' airspace.  Their
innovative concept was to develop a palletized kit of appropriate sensors
that could be loaded aboard any partner's properly fitted C-130.  The system
includes a large external sensor pod of the same size and shape as a
standard Hercules external tank.  The pod would replace one of the existing
external tanks for the mission.  Wiring would be permanently routed through
the wing to a connection with the pallet.  The item near the port wing tip
is semi-permanently mounted.   It could do double duty:  ECM and Open Skies
depending on the mission pallet.  Of course it could also support a cutting
edge Phillips/Blaupunkt Turboencabulator System."

Edited September 3, 2019 by Space Ranger
Add'l. info.

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Not that is helps much, there was a build of a Dutch C-130 some years ago here which included said 'rails'.

 

 

[Rob de Bie]

On 9/3/2019 at 3:51 PM, 757flyer said:

Can't recall seeing the wingtip rails worn by this Dutch Stretch Herc:. Are the rails an ECM/RWR/Self-Defense system?

 

ALR-69 according the an extensive Hercules article in the IPMS-NL magazine 'Modelbouw in Plastic', 1996 issue 4, by Bas Damen and Meindert de Vreeze.

 

Rob

[Space Ranger]

5 minutes ago, Rob de Bie said:

ALR-69 according the an extensive Hercules article in the IPMS-NL magazine 'Modelbouw in Plastic', 1996 issue 4, by Bas Damen and Meindert de Vreeze.

 

Rob

How would one go about obtaining a copy of that extensive article?

[Rob de Bie]

20 hours ago, Space Ranger said:

How would one go about obtaining a copy of that extensive article?

All IPMS-NL magazines are available as PDFs from the website, but you need a login. I made a download link  of the C-130H article itself on my own website, although it's probably not the intention of IPMS-NL. The alternative is that I download the magazine and send you the PDF, so there's not much difference. One of the writers (Meindert) is also active on this forum, possible he will intervene 🙂

 

Rob

Edited September 5, 2019 by Rob de Bie

[meindert]

As Rob noted, use the "download link" in message above to see the C-130H article PDF.

 

In addition have a look at the IPMS.NL  walkaround of the C-130 that includes the Royal Netherlands Air Force (KLu) aircraft:

 

 https://www.ipms.nl/walkarounds/walkaround-vliegtuigen-props/546-walkaround-c130

 

and also some info about the KLu operations at:

 

 https://www.ipms.nl/artikelen/nedmil-luchtvaart/vliegtuigen-l/vliegtuigen-l-lockheed-c130

 

(Articles are in Dutch so use Google Translate  for your mother language)