12/16/2017 Beechcraft RC-12 Guardrail - Wikipedia

Beechcraft RC-12 Guardrail

The Beechcraft RC-12 Guardrail is an airborne signals
RC-12 Guardrail
intelligence (SIGINT) collection platform based on the
Beechcraft King Air and Super King Air. While the US military
and specifically the United States Army have numerous
personnel transport variants of the King Air platforms
referred to with the general C-12 designation, the RC-12
specification represents a heavily modified platform that
facilitates SIGINT collection through various sensors and
onboard processors.

RC-12N
Role Signals intelligence aircraft
Contents
Manufacturer Beechcraft
Design and development
Status Active service
Description
Primary user United States Army
Variants
Developed from Beechcraft C-12 Huron
Incidents and accidents
See also
External links
References

Design and development

The US Army Guardrail platform has supplied critical intelligence and
target information to the warfighter since 1971.[1] Prior to the early 1980s
the early Guardrail variants were based on the U-21. After adopting the C-
12 platform over the U-21, the Guardrail platform has mostly evolved
beneath its skin through structural, power plant, and equipment upgrades
as noted by the various models described below.

Initially, the US Army had 13 RC-12Ds converted from C-12Ds, with

deliveries starting in mid-1983. One aircraft was assigned to US Army A Beechcraft RC-12N, 2013
Forces Command (FORSCOM) at Fort McPherson, Georgia, and the
remainder to 1st Military Intelligence Battalion at Wiesbaden, Germany,
and 2nd Military Intelligence Battalion at Stuttgart, Germany. The German-based aircraft were reassigned late 1991 to
3rd, 15th and 304th Military Intelligence Battalions at Camp Humphreys (South Korea), Fort Hood (Texas) and Fort
Huachuca (Arizona) respectively. One was converted back to an earlier configuration as C-12D-1.[2]

The next subsequent model was the RC-12G. Three RC-12G were delivered in 1985 after conversion from C-12D
airframes. These aircraft served with the in Latin America and then with the 138th Military Intelligence Company
(Aerial Exploitation) in Orlando, Florida, before being moved into storage at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.[2]

The next subsequent model was the RC-12H. The initial system contractor ESL Inc. delivered 6 RC-12H in 1988 for the
3rd Military Intelligence Battalion at Camp Humphreys in Pyongtaek, South Korea.[2]

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The next subsequent model was the RC-12K. The US Army ordered 9 RC-12K in October 1985, of which 8 replaced RC-
12Ds in 1st Military Intelligence Battalion in May 1991. One of these was subsequently lost in an accident. The ninth
US Army aircraft was retained by the contractor, Raytheon, for conversion to the planned RC-12N configuration. An
additional 2 RC-12K aircraft were delivered to Israel in May–June 1991.[2]

The prototype RC-12N was converted from an RC-12K. A total of 15 were converted by E-Systems and delivered 1992-
93 to the 224th Military Intelligence Battalion at Hunter Army Air Field, Georgia and 304th Military Intelligence
Battalion at Libby Army Air Force, Fort Huachuca, Arizona. One of these was lost in accident.[2]

The next subsequent model was the RC-12P. A total of 9 RC-12P aircraft were delivered to ESL/TRW at Moffett
Federal Airfield in late 1994 and 1995, and these airframes remained there in 1999.[2]

Tnree RC-12Ps were then modified by Raytheon and TRW to become RC-12Q. They were transferred to TRW in 1996
for outfitting, where they remained in 1999. The aircraft featured a prominent dorsal radome housing a satellite
communications antenna.[2]

The RC-12 in various versions to include the newest RC-12X and RC-12X+ have seen deployments to OEF and OIF. As
of July 2012, Northrop Grumman announced that its RC-12X Guardrails completed over 1,000th missions since going
into theater in 2011. That’s around 2 missions per day, every single day.[3] Recent upgrades and force realignments
have seen these newest models replace older variants in Korea.

A $462 million RC-12X program currently underway at Northrop Grumman is expected to bring the different aircraft
to introduce common standards throughout the RC-12 Guardrail fleet by upgrading all aircraft in the Army’s RC-12
fleet to the RC-12X standard, thereby replacing or upgrading all older variants. The Guardrail Modernization program
extends the life of the aircraft through 2025 and introduces new payloads to the system with enhanced capabilities to
sense and exploit emerging and rapidly evolving irregular and conventional warfare threats. The program also
enhances the sustainability of the RC-12X through commonality, a new glass cockpit, structural upgrades, and
significant hardware and software improvements.[4]

Description
Per the US Army’s Acquisition Support Center’s Portfolio description of the newest Guardrail variant, the Guardrail
Common Sensor (GR/CS) also referenced as the RC-12X or RC-12X+ is a "fixed-wing, airborne, SIGINT-collection and
precision targeting location system. It collects low-, mid- and high-band radio signals and ELINT signals; identifies
and classifies them; determines source location; and provides near-real-time reporting, ensuring information
dominance to commanders. GR/CS uses a Guardrail Mission Operations Facility (MOF) for the control, data
processing and message center for the system.”[5]

Variants
The RC-12D aircraft used in the Improved Guardrail V system were based on the King Air Model A200CT. This
US Army Special Electronic Mission version carried the AN/USD-9 Improved Guardrail V remote-controlled
communications intercept and direction-finding system. Associated ground equipment included the AN/TSQ-
105(V)4 integrated processing facility, AN/ARM-63(V)4 AGE flightline van and AN/TSC-87 tactical commander's
terminal. Five new-build RC-12D-like aircraft were sold to Israel for 191 Squadron at Sde Dov. These aircraft were
referred to either as RC-12D-FW or FWC-12D, with the FW reportedly being an abbreviation for "Field Wind,"
possibly a codeword for Israeli specific equipment fitted to the aircraft. The codeword "Big Apple" was also related
to these aircraft.[2]
The RC-12G, used for the Crazy Horse system, was a US Army Special Electronic Mission aircraft based on the
King Air A200CT. Generally similar to RC-12D, the maximum takeoff weight was increased to 6,800 kilograms
(15,000 pounds).[2]
The RC-12H aircraft used for Guardrail/Common Sensor System 3 (Minus) was a US Army Special Electronic
Mission aircraft that was generally similar to the RC-12D, though with the maximum takeoff weight increased to
6,800 kilograms (15,000 pounds).[2]

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The RC-12K aircraft used for Guardrail/Common Sensor System 4 was similar to RC-12H, but with a more
powerful 1,100 shp PT6A-67 turboprop engine and a maximum takoff weight increased to 7,250 kilograms
(16,000 pounds).[2]
The RC-12N aircraft used in Guardrail/Common Sensor System 1 was generally similar to the RC-12K, though
with a 7,350 kilogram (16,200 pound) maximum takeoff weight, and equipped with dual EFIS and aircraft
survivability equipment/avionics control system (ASE/ACS). The prototype RC-12N was converted from an RC-
12K.[2]

The RC-12P aircraft used in Guardrail/Common Sensor System 2 had

the same avionics and power plant as the RC-12N, though with
different mission equipment (including datalink capability), fibre optic
cabling, and smaller and lighter wing pods. The maximum takeoff
weight was increased to 7,480 kilograms (16,500 pounds).[2]
The RC-12Q aircraft, referred to as the Direct Air Satellite Relay,
consisted of 3 RC-12Ps modified by Raytheon and TRW to act as
'mother ships' to expand the RC-12P's operational area outside
satellite 'footprints.' The airframes were transferred to TRW in 1996 for
outfitting, where they remained in 1999. The aircraft featured a
prominent dorsal radome housing a satellite communications RC-12P
antenna.[2]
The RC-12X aircraft was a further improved RC-12 for use with the
GRCS, which included expanded frequency ranges, a capability to
locate signals in both stand-off and stand-in modes, and an adaptive beam-forming antenna array that is capable
of locating emitters in the dense signal environments.[2]
The RC-12X+ was a further improvement on the RC-12X and represents the latest variant of the system currently
fielded as of 2016.[6]

Incidents and accidents

On 16 April 1997, the 224th Military Intelligence Battalion lost an RC-12N and 2 crew members in a fatal training
accident. The following year on 6 November 1998, the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion lost a RC-12K and 2 crew
members in a similar training accident. In both accidents, the United States Army Safety Center Accident Boards listed
in their recommendations to TRADOC to 'Reevaluate the ATM Tasks for stalls, slow flight and VMC.' In February
1999, Commanding General, USAIC and FH, Major General John D. Thomas, sent a senior standardization instructor
pilot and the 305th Military Intelligence Battalion Safety Officer to USAAVNC to review the RC-12K Accident Board
findings to determine if training was a contributing factor. They recommended to Major General Thomas that the TC
1-219, Tasks for Slow Flight, Stalls and VMC, be rewritten.[2]

See also
Related development

Beechcraft C-12 Huron

Beechcraft King Air
Beechcraft Super King Air
Beechcraft 1900

External links
US Army Official GR/CS Platform Page: http://asc.army.mil/web/portfolio-item/guardrail-common-sensor-grcs/

References
1. "Guardrail – RC-12X" (http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/Guardrail/Pages/default.aspx). Northrop
Grumman. Retrieved 2017-07-03.

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2. Pike, John. "RC-12 Huron Special Electronic Mission Aircraft" (http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/systems/rc-12-g

uardrail.htm). www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
3. "The USAs RC-12X Guardrail SIGINT Modernization" (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/up-to-462m-for-rc-12-
guardrail-modernization-03756/). Defense Industry Daily. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
4. "U.S. Army to Fields RC-12X SIGINT Aircraft | Defense Update:" (http://defense-update.com/20110214_rc-12x-gu
ardrail.html). defense-update.com. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
5. "Guardrail Common Sensor (GR/CS)" (http://asc.army.mil/web/portfolio-item/guardrail-common-sensor-grcs/).
USAASC. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
6. "Army issues RFI for ELINT on Guardrail RC-12X+" (http://intelligencecommunitynews.com/army-issues-rfi-for-eli
nt-on-guardrail-rc-12x/). Intelligence Community News. 2015-05-06. Retrieved 2017-07-04.

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