AFSOC developing amphibious capability for MC-130J

US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is moving forward with long-standing plans to develop an amphibious capability for the Lockheed Martin M-130J Commando II.

An AFSOC press release on September 14 said that, in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory's Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation (AFRL-SDPE) directorate, AFSOC is developing an MC-130J Commando II Amphibious Capability (MAC) to improve the platform's support of seaborne special operations. AFSOC notes that the C-130J is an incredibly versatile aircraft, and since its creation, it has landed on rough fields, in arctic locations and even an aircraft carrier. Yet, it cannot land on water, which covers about 71% of the planet. As US national strategic objectives shift focus to littoral regions, AFSOC is advancing new approaches to expand the multi-mission platform's runway independence and expeditionary capacity.

Lt Col Josh Trantham, AFSOC Science, Systems, Technology, & Innovation (SST&I) Deputy Division Chief. , said: “The development of the MAC capability is the culmination of multiple lines of effort. This capability allows the Air Force to increase placement and access for infiltration, exfiltration, and personnel recovery, as well as providing enhanced logistical capabilities for future competition and conflict.”

Amphibious MC-130J concept
An impression of a twin float amphibious modification to an MC-130J Commando II. Air Force Special Operations Command and private sector counterparts are currently developing a Removable Amphibious Float Modification (RAFM) for the MC-130J, allowing the aircraft to take off and land in bodies of water and conduct runway independent operations AFSOC

The development of a removable amphibious float modification for an MC-130J would enable ‘runway independentoperations, which, according to Trantham, would extend the global reach and survivability of the aircraft and Air Commandos. “Seaborne operations offer nearly unlimited water landing zones providing significant flexibility for the Joint Force,” Trantham said.

Utilizing the MAC capability may provide unlimited operational access to waterways to distribute forces if land assets are compromised. Maj Kristen Cepak, AFSOC Technology Transition Branch Chief, said: “MAC is vital to future success because it will allow for the dispersal of assets within a Joint Operations Area. This diaspora complicates targeting of the aircraft by our adversaries and limits aircraft vulnerability at fixed locations.”

A task force of industry partners are closely collaborating with AFSOC and AFRL-SDPE to bring the vision to life. AFSOC states that a five-phase rapid prototyping schedule will lead to an operational capability demonstration in only 17 months, while de-risking the concept for a future potential MAC program of record that could field MAC for MC-130Js but also potentially field a similar amphibious capability for other C-130 variants with only minor variations.

AFSOC and private sector counterparts are currently testing MAC prototypes through digital design, virtual reality modelling (VR) and computer-aided designs (CAD) in a virtual setting known as the Digital Proving Ground (DPG). This paves the way for digital simulation, testing, and the use of advanced manufacturing for rapid prototyping and physical prototype testing.

According to Trantham and Cepak, the DPG can deliver mission review, aircraft system analysis, design ideation, engineering risk-reduction, virtual reality, concept imagery, feasibility studies and other deliverables. “Being able to experiment with existing technology to evaluate design trade-offs and test a new system before ever bending metal is a game-changer,” Cepak said. "AFSOC is evolving and experimenting in a smart way to reduce technical risk and deliver capability to the field more rapidly and efficiently than before."

According to Trantham, while the MAC project demonstrates rapid capability development for AFSOC, the Air Force and the Total Force will also benefit. “We believe MAC will be able to be used by our sister services, allies and partners on various C-130 platforms,” he said. “Further, expanding the operational use of an amphibious aircraft alongside other innovative tools will provide even more complex dilemmas in future battlespaces for our strategic competitors.”