The Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Center (ABCCC) provides unified and theater commanders with airborne

battle management and mission control capabilities to support worldwide combat operations, contingencies and special operations missions. Mission capabilities include forward battle coordination, tactical air direction, battle information analysis, drug interdiction, search and rescue operations, close air support, coordination of oint forces, national disaster coordination, and crisis management.

!eatures The ABCCC, designated A"#$%C&'(, is an airborne capsuli)ed system that fits into a specially modified C& *+, aircraft. The capsule system is e-uipped with ' .!, ( $.! .A/0 1$2C3, ( /.! AM#!M (' of which are planned to be %2"C4A5% capable), and + %ATC6M radio systems. As well as 7T28%, broadcast intelligence, tactical battle management, and airborne maintenance systems. The 0C&*+,0 ABCCC carries a combat crew of up to *9 people. !our members (pilot, co&pilot, navigator, and engineer) are responsible for the aircraft flight and navigation, while the mission crew conducts battlestaff operations within the ABCCC Capsule 222. The mission crew consists of the 8irector of Airborne Battlestaff (8AB%), Battlestaff 6perations 6fficer (B%66), Airborne 2ntelligence 6fficer (A26), Airborne 2ntelligence Technician (A2T), Air :eapons 8irector (A:8), Airborne Aircraft Controller (AAC), Airborne Close Air %upport Coordinator (ACA%C6), Airborne Maintenance Technician (AMT), Airborne %ystem Communication 6perator (AC%6), and an Airborne 5e-uest "et 6perator (A5"6). General Characteristics ;rimary !unction< Theater Battle Management Contractor< =oc>heed&Martin, 0agan Mn ;ower ;lant< !our Allison T?@&A&*? turbopropsA ',+,, horsepower, each engine =ength< 9B feet, 9 inches (C9.+ meters) .eight< +( feet, + inches (**.' meters) :ingspan< *+C feet, B inches (+9.B meters) %peed< +B' mph (Mach ,.?B) at C,,,,, feet (@,,@, meters) Ceiling< ++,,,, feet (*,,,,, meters) MaDimum Ta>eoff :eight< *??,,,, pounds (@9,B?, >ilograms) 5ange< C,?,, miles (C,*B' nautical miles) with capsule installed. $nlimited with air refueling. Crew< *9A B officers and *C enlisted 2nventory< B (@#*)A +??th :4, 'Cnd ACC%, 8avis&Monthan A!B AE

The 0C&*+,0 ABCCC consists of seven aircraft that are used as an Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Center. The 0C&*+,0 is a modified C&*+, F.erculesFA aircraft designed to carry the $%C&'( Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Center Capsules (ABCCC 222). These one&of&a >ind aircraft include the addition of eDternal antennae to accommodate the vast number of radios in the capsule, heat eDchanger pods for additional air conditioning, an aerial refueling system and special mounted rails for uploading and downloading the $%C&'( capsule. The ABCCC has distinctive air conditioner inta>es fore of the engines (FMic>ey Mouse earsF), two .! radio probes&towards the tips of both wings, and three mushroom&shaped antennas on the top of the aircraft & and, of course, numerous antennas on the belly. As an Air Combat Command asset, ABCCC (A&B&Triple&C) is an integral part of the Tactical Air Control %ystem. :hile functioning as a direct eDtension of ground&based command and control authorities, the primary mission is providing fleDibility in the overall control of tactical air resources. 2n addition, to maintain positive control of air operations, ABCCC can provide communications to higher head-uarters, including national command authorities, in both peace and wartime environments. The $%C&'( ABCCC 222 capsule, which fits into the aircraft cargo compartment, measures ', feet long, weighs approDimately C,,,,, pounds and costs G9 million each. The ABCCC provides unified and theater commanders an Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Center (ABCCC), with the capability for combat operations during war, contingencies, eDercises, and special classified missions. A highly trained force of mission ready crew members and specially e-uipped 0C&*+,0 aircraft to support worldwide combat operations. Mission roles include airborne eDtensions of the Air 6perations Center (A6C) and Airborne Air %upport 6perations Center (A%6C) for command and control of 6ffensive Air %upport (6A%) operationsA and airborne on&scene command for special operations such as airdrops or evacuations. The ABCCC system is a high&tech automated airborne command and control facility

featuring computer generated colour displays, digitally controlled communications, and rapid data retrieval. The platformHs C+ fully securable radios, secure teletype, and *? automatic fully computeri)ed consoles, allow the battlestaff to -uic>ly analy)e current combat situations and direct offensive air support towards fast& developing targets. ABCCC, is e-uipped with its most recent upgrade the 7oint Tactical 2nformation 8istribution %ystem, allows real&time accountability of airborne trac>s to capsule displays through data lin>s with A:AC% 0&+ F%entryF aircraft.