Is the term "ECM" or "Electronic Counter-measures" classified? Nope!It is not a C-130. It is an EC-130.
That is all I will say about that.
Stating something like that might confirm what the array is and hence confirm the speculation of what their mission is. I will not say anything about that airplane except that it is an EC130, well that and it is based out of Davis Montham AFB, but you can figure that out from the tail number.Is the term "ECM" or "Electronic Counter-measures" classified? Nope!
The array could be used for jamming, monitoring or its own communications. But, that's the least of what that bird has on board.
ah, shoot - we've got one of those on the Cherokee... it just appeared one day after flyin' low through someone's backyard. Once we got all the clothes off of it, the radio reception got a lot better, so we left it on there!
Everything I said is already in the public domain available for those who look. None of it is classified. Heck, I can't even recall what I knew that was classified back then. Even if I could recall details on the equipment I worked on it would be worthless since so much has been upgraded.Stating something like that might confirm what the array is and hence confirm the speculation of what their mission is. I will not say anything about that airplane except that it is an EC130, well that and it is based out of Davis Montham AFB, but you can figure that out from the tail number.
Everything I said is already in the public domain available for those who look. None of it is classified. Heck, I can't even recall what I knew that was classified back then. Even if I could recall details on the equipment I worked on it would be worthless since so much has been upgraded.
There is speculation in the public domain.Everything I said is already in the public domain available for those who look.
Used to be we had to protect those names especially if they started with the words Rivet-something and combat-something. But that changed in the late 80's and early 1990's. I never quite figured out why they loosened up on that stuff. We used to be told that we were tell people we flew on tankers even though our version of the 135 had no boom.C'mon Scott, we can at least tell them it's called a Compass Call. Other than that, what you find in open sources won't tell you a whole lot.
DM
You're welcome.
Ah so close!!!!Scott, gotta call you wrong on this one. It's Davis-Monthan...not Montham. Better luck next time. Hahahaha!
It is not so much the gear inside that is classified, it is what they do with it that is sensitive.Thanks much for the information. I'll look up the USAF inventory next time so I can take better pictures of the classified stuff when it's open for tours
That doesn't mean you're gonna easily walk off the base with a KY-28 or its encoder in hand. A couple decades ago, the KY-28 used a mechanical encoder with a set of rods that pushed switches into a specific position and setting a series of switches resulting in a code. But, when you initially open the cover the switches all reset so the previously set code is gone. There's no way to disassemble it see the code. Beside that, the code changed everyday and sometimes more frequently depending on the operation.It is not so much the gear inside that is classified, it is what they do with it that is sensitive.
I don't know what they use these days. I remember seeing paddles going into a box for data and voice encryption but I cannot remember if it was a KY28 or something else, for some reason KY34 comes to mind. But either way the IFF, I am pretty sure was something different. I could be wrong on that though. It was not my area of expertise. I was in the back with a lot of other interesting equipment to play with.That doesn't mean you're gonna easily walk off the base with a KY-28 or its encoder in hand. A couple decades ago, the KY-28 used a mechanical encoder with a set of rods that pushed switches into a specific position and setting a series of switches resulting in a code. But, when you initially open the cover the switches all reset so the previously set code is gone. There's no way to disassemble it see the code. Beside that, the code changed everyday and sometimes more frequently depending on the operation.
Oh, the KY-28 was the "IFF" box or Indentification-Friend or Foe. I imagine it's updated to something more modern these days.
It is not so much the gear inside that is classified, it is what they do with it that is sensitive.
Well it is an antenna.Well there you go! I wanted to know what it was, not what you use it for!