Special Purpose Aircraft

Modern specialized aircraft are often seen as the most

innovative and technologically advanced of all
aircraft. However, this is ironic considering that the
first archaic designs to clatter off the production line
and inducted into war were in fact special mission
aircraft. Specialized airplanes made their combat
debut in the Great War, and were all completely
designed around the observation role. Early Bleriot
types, for example, would be sent to fly above Triple
Alliance forces and identify the size and span of the
enemy below, as well as the types of equipment in
their possession. In fact, going back to the year 1794,
the French became the first to ever field a specialized
aircraft of any type, when the French Republican
Army made use of balloons in the observation role.
The balloons were equipped with a spyglass and
could loiter for a long time above the battlefield; just
as modern observation aircraft like the OV-10 Bronco
gives its pilots radar and can support sustained, longrange flights above the battlefield.
The term "Specialized Aircraft" is in fact a very
broad definition, and can apply to any fighter built
for a particular purpose. Although other aircraft such
as interceptor fighters and troop transports, etc, are
also considered specialized, they are present in much
greater numbers and variety than other specialized
aircraft and are therefore categories of their own.
Today, the term "Specialized Aircraft" is used to
describe less common, but completely unique aircraft
that play a significant role on the battlefield. These
aircraft include observation/FAC aircraft, without
which an army wouldn't be able to quickly gauge the
scope of a battle as OV-10 Broncos proved in the
Gulf war, and ASW aircraft, such as the S-3 Viking
that can be deployed in large numbers to sink any
type of submarine known to man. Below is an
overview of these aircraft, their roles, dominant
characteristics, and the reasons they can prove
invaluable for handling a variety of common/dire

battlefield situations.
Most Common Specialized Aircraft
Role: Observation
USAF/USN Designation: O-X (X represents variable
numbers)
Characteristics: Observation aircraft can fly far using
internal or external fuel, allowing them to "loiter" in
the air after locating targets so that they may keep
tabs on them before heavier aircraft arrive. Unlike
reconnaissance aircraft that also are used to gather
intelligence, observation aircraft mainly identify
targets visually, not with advanced equipment.
Observation aircraft usually equip phosphorous
rockets, or designator pods, to "mark" these targets.
The Cessna O-2's role in Vietnam was to search for
NVA convoys, designate them, and keep them in
sight until an AC-130A gunship could show up and
finish off the convoy. Some can also be equipped
with ground attack weapons and be used as attack
aircraft, like some south American OV-10 Broncos.
Another feature possessed by observation aircraft is a
large canopy in the cockpit to give the pilots an
excellent all round view.
Significance: The observation aircraft is given a
tough task, having to locate hostile units in hot zones
while exposed to fire from both above, and below.
However, without these aircraft, the intelligence that
troops and officers rely on to stay safe and on top of a
combat situation would not be available. OV-10
Broncos are proof of this fact. Marine units under
artillery fire are totally defenseless, and call in
Broncos to find artillery positions and alert AV-8Bs
or F/A-18s to their locations. Observation aircraft are
also cheap and numerous, and allow an officer to
direct a battle or "see" a situation without more costly
or scarce resources being deployed. In Vietnam,
Cessna O-1s and O-2s saved the lives of American
troops by spotting ambushes and locating howitzer
positions manned by Vietcong troops. Observation

aircraft have also been useful for political reasons as

well as military. The Open Skies program was an
agreement between major superpowers, most notably
Russia and the U.S.A., to destroy various strategic
bombers and other similarly deadly combat
aircraft/aerial systems. To ensure that the other
countries are keeping their end of the bargain,
program members allow each other access to their
airspace, so that they may fly over airfields and
missile bases to confirm the pre-specified items have
been dismantled (Bombers, ICBMs, etc.). The United
States uses converted Boeing 707s designated OC135s to fly over Russian bases. In the past, An-30
Clanks were used by Russia and the Czech Republic
for this program, but they have since been replaced
by Tu-154 "Careless" aircraft, a type also flown by
Germany.
Examples: Cessna O-1 and O-2, Rockwell OV-10
Bronco, OV-1 Mohawk, OA-10 Thunderbolt II, OC135, and an observation variant of the An-30 Clank.
Role: Reconnaissance
USAF/USN Designation: U-X/R-X (The latter
designation is tagged onto aircraft converted from
their previous role to serve as reconnaissance
platforms)
Characteristics: Reconnaissance aircraft are equipped
with sophisticated radar, camera, and sensor
equipment, which are usually located in the nose or
directly beneath the fuselage. Flying boats and
turboprop aircraft were used as reconnaissance
aircraft in the past, but modern recon aircraft are
designed to fly to high altitudes, with the ability to
remain in the air for long periods of time. As a result,
the equipment they employ, such as radar and spying
technology, generally has a long range. In short, any
military aircraft tasked with the duty of collecting
information is a reconnaissance aircraft. Civilian
types are usually referred to as surveillance aircraft,
but each perform the same duties and are
indistinguishable in role.
Significance: Reconnaissance aircraft collect the

majority of the data military officials depend on to

take advantage of unfolding situations. All
reconnaissance aircraft specialize in different
techniques which can be used to collect data. The
Grumman U-16 Albatross served as an amphibious
platform during the Vietnam conflict which could
float in bodies of water, keeping an eye on Vietcong
positions, in areas too dangerous for aircraft to loiter
in the sky. Converted RF-101 Voodoos and RA-5
Vigilantes were as instrumental in Vietnam as their
fighter/attack counterparts, the former using its high
speed to gather intelligence and escaped unharmed.
The RA-5 Vigilante had a high load carrying capacity
and could operate off aircraft carriers, allowing more
equipment to be carried and more flexibility in
deployment. American U-2 and Myasischev M-55
aircraft are said by their respective airforces to be
used for "monitoring atmospheric pressure"
(Translation: Spying), although each are capable of
high altitude reconnaissance. The U-2 received much
media attention from spotting Soviet missile sites in
Cuba and the Gary Powers Incident, in which a U-2
was shot down after "monitoring atmospheric
pressure" over secure Soviet military bases.
Examples: An-30 Clank, U-2 Dragon Lady,
Myasischev M-55 Geofizika (NATO Codename
"Mystic"), Yakovlev Yak-25 Mandrake, Grumman U16 Albatross
Role: ASW
USAF/USN Designation: S-X
Characteristics: Anti-Submarine warfare aircraft
often carry wide, deep fuselages in which weapon
bays useful for storing depth charges and torpedoes
can be located. They also carry hardpoints on which
bombs, Anti-Ship Missiles (ASMs) and electronics
equipment can be placed. All fixed wing ASW
aircraft are generally designed for long range antisubmarine operations, as shorter range operations can
be carried out by specially equipped ASW
helicopters.
Significance: ASW aircraft make up an aircraft

carriers chief defense against submarines and light

ships. While they may not utilize the massive
missiles or advanced sensor equipment of patrol
aircraft, they are far more versatile and combat is
their number-one priority. During the Cold War, the
massive submarine fleets of the USSR (Not to
mention a large number of nuclear-missile equipped
classes) and the technologically advanced submarines
of the United States and Great Britain created a vital
need for each side to stock up on ASW variants.
Famous American author Tom Clancy detailed the
extent to which a war between submarine-equipped
nations could reach, where submarines could silently
stalk and destroy ships virtually unopposed unless
specially designed vehicles were used to prevent this.
Although ASW aircraft haven't ever fought an
unclassified engagement with a submarine, American
S-3s were used in the gulf war to drop bombs on Iraqi
buildings and other land-based targets. South
American S-2s also took part in the Falklands War,
operated by Argentinean pilots. The Alize, S-2, and
S-3 all operate from carriers or occasionally from
land, but Russian ASW aircraft designed by Beriev
are fully amphibious.
Examples: Breguet Alize, Grumman S-2 Tracker,
Lockheed S-3 Viking, Fairey Gannett, Beriev Be-6
and Be-12.
Role: Special Mission
USAF/USN Designation: E-X
Characteristics: As special mission aircraft utilize
electronics, they tend to be large enough to
accommodate multiple operators, equipment and
computer banks. Smaller special mission aircraft
usually carry out ELINT (electronic intelligence) or
electronic warfare missions, which are offensive
strikes using both physical and psychological means
to accomplish a goal. Large under-fuselage or overfuselage antenna arrays, rotating disc arrays, and
"bulges" (Enlarged portions of the fuselage
containing sensory or avionics equipment) are always
found on these aircraft, some more noticeable than
others. Significance: Electronic warfare/Special

Mission aircraft look to technology, especially their

mighty radar and electronic systems, to turn the tide
of the battlefield situation. These aircraft undertake
jamming missions, anti-radar operations, hack into
enemy broadcasts, and other offensive duties. On the
other end of the scale, they also excel at defensive
missions, protecting aircraft from jamming, locating
incoming aircraft or ground forces, and serving as a
communications relay aircraft. The IL-38 May
aircraft was one of the USSR's longest serving
ELINT and AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning &
Control) aircraft, used for border patrol and to survey
"hot" areas such as East Germany to keep an eye on
NATO forces and their allies, being replaced by the
larger but more potent Beriev A-50 Mainstay. Many
countries have converted transport aircraft into
AEW&C aircraft, such as Sweden's Saab 100, the
Netherlands Fokker Fellowship, and Australia's USbuilt E-737 Wedgetail. American EC-130 Rivet
Riders are one of the most advanced special mission
aircraft ever built, tasked with invading enemy
channels during wartime and broadcasting
propaganda messages.
Examples: IAI Phalcon, EA-6, Dassault Falcon,
Boeing E-4, E-6, E-8 Joint STARS, A-50 Mainstay,
Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante, Yak-28 Brewer E,
and the Il-20 Coot.
Role: Aerial Refueling/Air Tanker
USAF/USN Designation: K-X
Characteristics: Tanker aircraft carry a widened fuel
bay, and depending on the type of aircraft they will
refuel, a flying boom or a probe and drogue system.
The flying booms are fixed metal apertures used to
refuel aircraft, while the probe and drogues are
retractable apertures resembling hoses. Although
several light military types have been converted to
tankers, such as the KA-6 Intruder, mainly large
cargo airplanes or civilian transports such as the Il-76
(Il-78M Midas Tanker Variant) or Douglas DC-10
(KC-10 Extender) are converted to tankers.
Significance: Many military aircraft, especially attack

aircraft, have a very poor range. Underfuselage and

drop-tanks can solve this problem to an extent, but
generate drag and add extra weight. By having
tankers refuel aircraft in mid-air, their range may be
extended without compromising their combat ability.
Also, as even with drop tanks or auxiliary fuel tanks
military aircraft generally cannot fly very far, aerial
tankers allow aircraft to deploy overseas or across
thousands of miles, distances they would not be able
to even fathom covering on their own. The world's
first tankers were KB-29 Superfortresses, which
proved invaluable but served in small numbers. The
first extremely innovative tanker was Boeing's KC135, a converted 707 airliner modified to carry a
flying boom. KC-135s served in enormous numbers
and proved irreplaceable over Vietnam, enabling
transport aircraft to resupply military bases over long
distances. More recent tankers such as the RAF
Tristar and USAF KC-10 Extender can carry huge
loads of fuel, much more than the KC-135, enabling
them to refuel aircraft several times in one flight even
when flying long ranges. These tankers also equip
both flying-boom and probe-and-drogue systems,
which boost their versatility. In Operation Desert
Storm, hundreds of tankers served to allow aircraft to
fly from bases in Britain, the United States, Germany,
and other areas to the gulf.
Examples: Il-78M Midas, KC-97, KC-135, KC-10,
converted Vickers VC.10s, KB-29/50 Superfortress,
and Tristar K. Mark 1.
Role: Maritime Patrol
USAF/USN Designation: P-X (NOTE: Not to be
confused with older pursuit aircraft)
Characteristics: Maritime patrol aircraft are more
focused on possessing range, equipment and
personnel than with speed or armament. However,
many patrol aircraft do carry anti-ship missiles to use
against ships or submarines, and UK Nimrods even
have the capability to carry air-to-air missiles for self
defence. Many favour turboprops for their range and
fuel economy, but newer examples such as the P-8
Poseidon wield turbofan engines and large fuel tanks.

Their main role is a combination of visual

observation and over/under sea reconnaissance using
electronic equipment. Therefore, they carry radar,
sensor, and SONAR equipment to locate threats.
Significance: Maritime patrol aircraft allow a country
to monitor events occurring over, and under, the
surface of the waves. As over two thirds the surface
of the Earth is covered by water, many countries
support navies. Maritime patrol aircraft can be used
to "scout" ahead of ships to locate submarines, mines,
hostile ships, or similar objects. Upon discovering a
hostile, they usually will radio for specialized MH53E Sea Dragon, Ka-27 Helix, S-3 Viking, or Beriev
aircraft to disarm/subdue the threat. Some patrol
aircraft, such as P-3 Orions, carry ASMs to destroy
targets with, although they are most effective when a
friendly submarine is available to illuminate the
target. However, P-3 Orions, BAe Nimrods, and
similarly aged patrol aircraft are slowly being retired,
as although they are cheap to deploy in theory, their
aging airframes require hours of maintenance
between flights. This rule especially applies to the P3, which recently is spending more time undergoing
maintenance than being deployed. Soviet-built Tu141 Bear patrol aircraft have been used extensively
by Russia and India, and unlike most patrol aircraft,
rely more on their offensive capabilities than on
technology to be successful in combat. Although a
large, powerful platform, the Tu-141's extremely loud
turboprop engines have been detected by submarine
SONAR on multiple occasions.
Examples:Breguet Atlantique, P-3 Orion, P-8
Poseidon, Avro Shackleton, BAe Nimrod, Tu-141.
Although the above types are by far as notorious as
they are potent, other less-well known (and less
effective) types of specialized aircraft exist and have
been deployed into various conflicts with varying
degrees of success. One of the best examples of these
was the drone carrier aircraft. Drone carriers would
fly to or slightly past the front lines of battle, and
release drone aircraft to spy on enemy positions.
When the drones ran out of fuel and crashed,
helicopters would be sent to recover them. In

Vietnam, this technique was carried out with DC130s to gather intel on NVA positions without risking
pilots. Each DC-130 could hold a total of four drones,
allowing four missions to be carried out per DC-130
flight. However, drones were often rocket powered
and had very little range, and sometimes didn't even
reach their target before their fuel supply was
depleted. They could also be badly damaged when
crashing. The introduction of long-ranged UAV
drones replaced their aircraft-based counterparts, who
lacked the technological advancements and
ergonomic design possessed by new land-based
drones.
Another less-known type of specialized aircraft is the
water-bomber. Russian Beriev Be-200s can be used
for both civilian and military applications, from a
forest fire to a blazing hangar. They are also fully
amphibious, and can refill their water tank while
floating on the water, after which they will proceed to
their target and "bomb" it with foam, water, or special
firefighting chemicals. Grumman S-2 Trackers were
converted into the "Turbo Firecat" version (The
"Firecat" designation is used in honour of Grumman's
many aircraft named after felines) and mainly serves
with civilian forces. Search and Rescue
(SAR)/Medical Evacuation aircraft such as the C-9
Nightingale are also famous for rescuing hundreds of
troops (In the C-9's case from Vietnam) and bringing
them to safer airbases where they could receive
medical treatment. Also used to support troops, but in
an entirely different fashion, are communications
aircraft. RC-12 Guardrails carry out COMINT
(COMmunications INTelligence) missions, in which
they intercept enemy communications and convey
any useful information to ground troops, which was
instrumental in Operation Desert Storm for dealing
with massed Iraqi tank formations. SR-71s use a
different but still effective method, capturing enemy
positions on-screen using powerful camera and
electronics equipment, and utilizing it to both direct
troops and survey high-value targets. Unlike
reconnaissance aircraft, communications aircraft
usually work in co-ordination with ground forces,
passing them collected intelligence.

Written by: Pace51