    Just what is this EC-130E Commando Solo?  The United States Air Force has
    helpfully published a fact sheet that describes the Lockheed built air-
    craft. [6]  This 1995 bulletin states that the "unit flyaway cost" is more
    than US $100 million each, and that there are eight in the inventory.  Its
    primary function is "Psychological operations broadcasts".  The crew
    consists of four officers (pilot, copilot, navigator, control chief/EWO)
    and seven enlisted members (flight engineer, loadmaster, five mission
    crew.)

    According to the fact sheet:

    "Air Force Mission:  Commando Solo conducts psychological operations and
    civil affairs broadcast missions in the standard AM, FM, HF, TV and
    military communications bands.  Missions are flown at maximum altitudes
    possible to ensure optimum propagation patterns.  The EC-130 flies during
    either day or night scenarios with equal success, and is air refuealable.
    A typical mission consists of a single ship orbit which is offset from the
    desired target audience.  The targets may be either military or civilian
    personnel.

    "Secondary missions include command and control communications counter-
    measures (C3CM) and limited intelligence gathering.

    "Air Force Features:  Highly specialized modifications have been made to
    the latest version of the EC-130.  Included in these modifications are
    enhanced navigation systems, self-protection equipment, and the capability
    of broadcasting color television on a multitude of world-wide standards
    throughout the TV VHF/UHF ranges.

    "Air Force Background:  Air National Guard EC-130 aircraft flown by the
    193rd Special Operations Group were deployed to both Saudi Arabia and
    Turkey in support of Desert Storm.  Their missions included broadcasts of
    'Voice of the Gulf' and other programs intended to convince Iraqi soldiers
    to surrender.

    "The EC-130 was originally modified using the mission electronic equipment
    from the EC-121, known at the time as the Coronet Solo.  Soon after the
    193rd SOG received its EC-130s, the unit participated in the rescue of US
    citizens in Operation Urgent Fury, acting as an airborne radio station
    informing those people on Granada of the US military action.

    "Volant Solo, as the mission is now known, was instrumental in the success
    of coordinated psychological operations in Operation Just Cause, again
    broadcasting continuously throughout the initial phases of the operation."

                                    -78-