{"id":24119,"date":"2018-06-12T17:09:19","date_gmt":"2018-06-12T17:09:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/06\/12\/us-to-boost-nuke-sniffing-with-modified-c-130s\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:06:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:06:43","slug":"us-to-boost-nuke-sniffing-with-modified-c-130s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2018\/06\/12\/us-to-boost-nuke-sniffing-with-modified-c-130s\/","title":{"rendered":"US to boost nuke sniffing with modified C-130s"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WASHINGTON \u2014 When the Air Force dispatches aircraft to the Asia-Pacific to monitor the atmosphere for signs of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/smr\/kadena-air-base\/2018\/03\/02\/at-kadena-air-base-the-elephant-in-the-room-is-north-korean\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">nuclear activity from North Korea<\/a>, it relies on its WC-135 Constant Phoenix nuke-sniffing planes. But with only two of those in the service\u2019s inventory, it\u2019s possible the WC-135s might not be able to respond to every contingency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Enter the ever-versatile C-130 Hercules, which now can be equipped with a modular kit that allows it to detect nuclear particles in the atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Air Force spent $10.1 million in fiscal year 2016 for two \u201cHarvester Particulate Airborne Collection System\u201d kits that can be strapped onto C-130H\/Js and collect microscopic nuclear solids in the event that the service can\u2019t make its WC-135 aircraft available, said Susan Romano, a spokeswoman for the Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC), which is responsible for conducting nuclear surveillance for the Defense Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/06\/12\/pentagon-assessing-trump-directive-to-cancel-korea-military-exercises\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18163082897748.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">President Trump has ordered the Pentagon to cancel military exercises with South Korea \u2014 what happens next?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Troops are staying put, for now \u2014 but the joint Republic of Korea-U.S. exercises may be canceled.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein has said that the current WC-135 planes are too old and too few in number to meet all of the Defense Department\u2019s demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/smr\/nuclear-triad\/2018\/04\/25\/air-force-to-start-transforming-tankers-into-wc-135-nuke-sniffers-this-year\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">Our mission capable rates<\/a>, and more importantly our aircraft availability rates to go do this mission, are much lower than not only the secretary of defense but the combatant commander\u2019s requirements for that mission,\u201d he told Congress in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the Harvester kits won\u2019t give the C-130 the full capability of the Constant Phoenix, it gives the U.S. Air Force a needed boost in capacity at a time when its more focused than ever on the nuclear activities of Russia, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/global\/asia-pacific\/2018\/06\/11\/ahead-of-trump-kim-summit-heres-a-look-at-north-koreas-missile-tests\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">North Korea<\/a>, China and Iran. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/C1301.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51962\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/C1301.jpg.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/C1301.jpg.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/C1301.jpg.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/C1301.jpg.jpg?resize=768,768 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A photo taken of a C-130 equipped with a modular kit that allows it to detect nuclear particles. This version of the equipment was tested in 2015 at Hurlburt Field in Florida, said Quinton McGuire, a former U.S. Air Force loadmaster. (Quinton McGuire)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Defense News first learned about these specially-outfitted Hercules thanks to a series of tweets by Quinton McGuire, a former C-130 loadmaster who participated in 2015 tests of the Harvester system aboard a Super Hercules flying out of Hurlburt Field, Florida. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McGuire\u2019s photos show a C-130J with the rear paratrooper doors outfitted with a podded sensor hanging from the exterior of the door. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the demonstration, a WC-135 crew operated the sensor pod and conducted onboard analysis, McGuire said in a series of tweets. Also present during the flight were representatives from Sandia National Laboratory, one of the nation\u2019s largest research labs for nuclear weaponry, which developed the Harvester pods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe door was really cool. It allowed the Loadmaster or system operator to get a better view of the equipment (and also take kick ass pictures at high altitude),\u201d McGuire tweeted. \u201cAnd it\u2019s more cost effective to develop more flexibility without dedicating 2 high value assets to that mission.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Harvester kit was also tested on Customs and Border Protection MQ-9 Reaper drones before technical demonstrations wrapped up in 2015, Romano said. Since then, the Air Force decided to procure two kits, which are currently going through the acceptance process and will fully operational and mission-ready in fiscal year 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each Harvester suite includes two sampling pods that collect radioactive particles and a gamma radiation sensor that helps guide the aircraft to a radioactive plume, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/share-ng.sandia.gov\/news\/resources\/news_releases\/airborne_pods\/#.Wx7WJe4vzIV\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">Sandia news release<\/a> on a 2013 test aboard an MQ-9. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It also includes radiation protection gear and other equipment needed to sample and analyze nuclear particles in air and on the ground, Romano said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1200\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/c1304.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51967\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/c1304.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/c1304.jpg.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/c1304.jpg.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/c1304.jpg.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/c1304.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The interior of a C-130J, as seen during a 2015 test at Hurlburt Field. The door was outfitted with special sensing equipment that allows it to monitor nuclear particles, which was operated by a WC-135 crew.   (Quinton McGuire)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During a mission, Air Mobility Command would provide C-130s and the pilots and crew needed to operate the aircraft itself, while the 21st Surveillance Squadron would provide the personnel needed to use the Harvester equipment and do the nuclear forensics onboard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The C-130 would first use the gamma radiation sensor to find a hot spot of nuclear activity, and then flying through the plume, passing air rapidly through the sampling pod. That action rams microscopic nuclear particles into the filter paper in the pods much the way that a vaccum uses a filter to collect dirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA separate radiation sensor analyzes the filter in real time to estimate the type and quantity of radioactive particles collected,\u201d said a Sandia news release that explained the Harvester capability. \u201cMore extensive examination of the filters occurs after the aircraft has landed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So if nuclear particles can be detected by a C-130, why does the Air Force still need the WC-135?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A \u201crapid, medium altitude, manned, refuel-capable aircraft\u201d is currently required to do the nuclear treaty monitoring mission, said Romano, and the C-130 doesn\u2019t fit the bill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For one, it can\u2019t refuel other aircraft. But even more importantly, the modular Harvester kits only give the C-130 the ability to collect particles, while the WC-135 has a collection system for nuclear gases, as well as other equipment like internal filtration that allows the crews to conduct longer missions, Romano said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additionally, the C-130 flies slow and low. While the C-130J may be able to hit a higher top speed than a WC-135, its 28,000-foot ceiling is significantly lower than the WC-135\u2019s 40,000-foot maximum altitude, according to Air Force fact sheets. Meanwhile, the WC-135 outperforms the C-130H variant in both areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/06\/11\/hours-before-historic-summit-mattis-says-alls-quiet-with-north-korean-military\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"221\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18162538004150.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Hours before historic summit, Mattis says \u2018all\u2019s quiet\u2019 with North Korean military<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Defense secretary says he sees no heightened state of readiness.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although the nuclear treaty monitoring mission isn\u2019t often discussed by the Air Force due for classification reasons, it\u2019s clear that the service is putting more money into ensuring that it can rapidly respond when an adversary tests nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In September 2019, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/industry\/2018\/05\/09\/l3-looks-overseas-in-push-to-become-sixth-prime\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">L3 Technologies<\/a> will begin transforming three KC-135R tankers into WC-135s. Those three new Constant Phoenix planes will allow the Air Force to retire its current two WC-135s \u2014 and increase the number of nuke sniffers by one aircraft. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Air Force is requesting $208 million in FY19 for the Constant Phoenix upgrade effort, with an additional $8 million planned in FY20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">For a month in 2015 I spent a month with the test unit at Hurlbert. We had the Constant Phoenix folks along with Sandia doing flight test on a modular version of their sniffer in the door of a standard C-130J. (Former AMC J model Loadmaster. I have pics if you want to see them.)<\/p>&mdash; Stressball (@Thestressball1) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Thestressball1\/status\/989147790910672908?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 25, 2018<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Air Force doesn&#8217;t have too many WC-135 Constant Phoenix. Enter the ever-versatile Hercules.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":51957,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":7,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"2":{"categories":["your-military","news","left-column","home","middle-column"],"primary_category":"your-military"},"4":{"categories":["your-air-force","news","left-column","home","middle-column","daily-news-roundup","newsletters"],"primary_category":"your-air-force"},"9":{"categories":["sensors","intel-geoint"],"primary_category":"sensors"}}},"categories":[7,160,36,125,30],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3384],"class_list":["post-24119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-air","category-daily-news-roundup","category-newsletters","category-nuclear-triad","category-smr"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"4X4VAMYYJFETHIYGS2LHR7NN7I","arc_canonical_url":"\/air\/2018\/06\/12\/us-to-boost-nuke-sniffing-with-modified-c-130s\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>US to boost nuke sniffing with modified C-130s - Defense News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Air Force doesn&#039;t have too many WC-135 Constant Phoenix. Enter the ever-versatile Hercules.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2018\/06\/12\/us-to-boost-nuke-sniffing-with-modified-c-130s\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"US to boost nuke sniffing with modified C-130s\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Air Force doesn&#039;t have too many WC-135 Constant Phoenix. Enter the ever-versatile Hercules.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2018\/06\/12\/us-to-boost-nuke-sniffing-with-modified-c-130s\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Defense News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-06-12T17:09:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-07T22:06:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Valerie Insinna\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Valerie Insinna\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2018\\\/06\\\/12\\\/us-to-boost-nuke-sniffing-with-modified-c-130s\\\/#article\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2018\\\/06\\\/12\\\/us-to-boost-nuke-sniffing-with-modified-c-130s\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"author\": {\n\t                \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"headline\": \"US to boost nuke sniffing with modified C-130s\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2018-06-12T17:09:19+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-07T22:06:43+00:00\",\n\t            \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2018\\\/06\\\/12\\\/us-to-boost-nuke-sniffing-with-modified-c-130s\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"wordCount\": 1027,\n\t            \"commentCount\": 0,\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2018\\\/06\\\/12\\\/us-to-boost-nuke-sniffing-with-modified-c-130s\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/4216176.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"articleSection\": [\n\t                \"Air Warfare\",\n\t                \"Daily News Roundup\",\n\t                \"Newsletters\",\n\t                \"Nuclear Triad\",\n\t                \"Special Multimedia Reports\"\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"CommentAction\",\n\t                    \"name\": \"Comment\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2018\\\/06\\\/12\\\/us-to-boost-nuke-sniffing-with-modified-c-130s\\\/#respond\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2018\\\/06\\\/12\\\/us-to-boost-nuke-sniffing-with-modified-c-130s\\\/\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2018\\\/06\\\/12\\\/us-to-boost-nuke-sniffing-with-modified-c-130s\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"US to boost nuke sniffing with modified C-130s - Defense News\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#website\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"primaryImageOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2018\\\/06\\\/12\\\/us-to-boost-nuke-sniffing-with-modified-c-130s\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2018\\\/06\\\/12\\\/us-to-boost-nuke-sniffing-with-modified-c-130s\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/4216176.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2018-06-12T17:09:19+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-07T22:06:43+00:00\",\n\t            \"description\": \"The Air Force doesn't have too many WC-135 Constant Phoenix. 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