Operation Entebbe/Entebbe Raid/ Operation Thunderbolt was a daringly executed counter– terrorism hostage rescue mission carried out by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) at Entebbe Airport in Uganda on the night of 3 July and early morning of 4 July 1976 in which Israeli operated C–130 Hercules played a pivotal role. Originally codenamed Operation Thunderball/ Thunderbolt, the operation was later renamed Operation Yonatan in memory Lieutenant Colonel Yonatan Netanyahu who was killed in action. In the wake of the hijacking of Air France Flight 139 and the hijackers’ threats to kill the hostages if their demands were not met, a plan was drawn up to airlift the hostages to safety still taking into account of possible hostile involvement of Ugandan military troops. On 3 July, the Israeli cabinet approved a rescue mission, Operation Entebbe, under the command of Major General Yekutiel Adam and Deputy Commander Matan Vilnai. Brigadier General Dan Shomron was appointed to command the operation on the ground. After days of intelligence gathering and assessment by Netanyahu’s deputy Moshe Betser, four (arguably three) Israeli Defence Force–Air Force (IDF–AF) C–130 Hercules ‘transport’ aircraft flew discreetly to Entebbe. Initially crossing Sharm al– Sheikh, and down the international flight path over the Red Sea, a flying height of no more than 100 feet was maintained to avoid radar detection by hostile Egyptian, Sudanese and Saudi Arabian forces. Near the south outlet of the Red Sea the IDF–AF C–130s turned right and passed south of Djibouti. From there they went to a point Northeast of Nairobi, Kenya then turning west passing through the African Rift Valley and over Lake Victoria.
They were accompanied by two Boeing 707 jets with the first Boeing carrying medical facilities landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya whereas the commander of the operation, General Yekutiel Adam on board the second Boeing that circled over Entebbe Airport during the operation. Approach was at the Entebbe airport was executed by cover of night minus aid of Entebbe ground control and in a tightly controlled ‘single file’ ensuring that they would present a single radar signature even if spotted. While one IDF–AF C–130 was extensively used for deceptive operations (details irrelevant here) the other C–130 Hercules platforms landed and unloaded Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC). They were used for defence during the anticipated hour of refuelling, destruction of Ugandan MiG–17 jet fighters at the airport and for intelligence gathering. Within 30 minutes all eight hijackers were eliminated as against loss of single Israeli commando plus five injured. Out of the one hundred and five hostages, only three lost their lives and around ten were wounded. Nearly fifty Ugandan soldiers were killed during the raid. Only one hostage remained behind and executed by Ugandan army officers later. The rescued hostages were flown to Israel via Nairobi. In Indian context, Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) have entered into a teaming agreement to expand upon the companies’ business relationship through the C–130J–30 Super Hercules tactical airlifter.
This announcement marks a significant step in enhancing India’s defence and aerospace capabilities while also deepening India–US strategic ties. This agreement provides a framework for collaboration on future potential business opportunities to include establishing a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India to support the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) existing fleet of 12 C–130J–30s as well as other global Super Hercules fleets plus expanding C–130J manufacturing and assembly in India to produce aircraft for the IAF’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme, subject to US and Indian government approvals. The IAF is actively seeking to acquire up to 80 medium transport aircraft and issued a Request for Information (RFI) last year. Lockheed Martin responded to the RFI as the C–130J–30 Super Hercules is ideally suited to meet the requirements. Lockheed Martin will continue to build C–130Js for the US government and other global operators at the existing Super Hercules production facility in Marietta, Georgia, USA. Lockheed Martin will establish additional production and assembly capacity in India if awarded the MTA contract. The projected scenario will also enable a significant proportion of IAF transport fleet capable of undertaking Special Operations, extremely relevant in background of disturbing and unstable political situation around the subcontinent.
The IAF purchased six “stretched”C–130J–30 Super Hercules in early 2008 at a cost of up to US$ 1.06 billion under a package deal with the United States government under its Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. India subsequently bought six more of these aircraft for its special forces for combined army– air force operations with the platforms entering IAF service 2011 onwards. Incidentally Pentagon’s request to the United States Congress for the sale acknowledged India as an “important force for political stability, peace and economic progress” and the sale would “provide Indian government with credible Special Operations airlift capability that will deter aggression” in the region. Capable of transiting 5,200 km without refuelling with a 20 ton payload, the first C–130J–30 for the United Kingdom Royal Air Force (RAF) was delivered in November 1999 and deliveries of all fifteen aircraft ordered were completed in June 2001. The aircraft remains additionally in production for the United States Air Force (USAF) and twenty–three nations worldwide. Capable of executing Short Take– Off and Landing (STOL) operations from unprepared strips, the originally developed troop, Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) and cargo transport platform, the C–130J–30 Super Hercules represents one of the finest special operations platforms. If necessary, the special mission equipment is removable to allow the C–130J–30 to revert back to cargo delivery role. The cargo floor length of the stretched C–130J–30 version is increased from 40 feet to 55 feet significantly increasing the aircraft’s airlift capability.
At least three APC can be accommodated, or eight 463L pallets, or ninety–seven litters, or twenty four US Container Delivery System (CDS) bundles, or one hundred and twenty eight fully equipped combat troops or ninety–two paratroopers. Equally important is C–130J–30’s capability to place its 20– ton “supplies” with pinpoint accuracy within an area of a “football field”. Four Rolls–Royce AE2100D3 turboprop engines with Full– Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC), each rated at 4,591 shaft horsepower (3,425–kW) in conjunction of all composite six–blade Dowty R391 propeller system ensures superb handling characteristics. An automatic thrust control system (ATCS) optimises the balance of power on the engines. This Vayu correspondent aboard a C–130 during Aero India 2009 has experienced that the aircraft remains relatively stable even during prolonged transits in low altitudes. The aircraft can carry a maximum internal fuel load of 45,900 lb, plus an additional 18,700 lb of fuel can be carried in external underwing fuel tanks. The refuelling probe has been relocated on the C–130J to the port side, over the cockpit, and the C–130J–30 is capable of theoretically undertaking a non–stop flight from India to United States with three refuelling. It was initially anticipated that the C–130J–30s for IAF service will come with refuelling pods capable of providing Air–to–Air Refuelling (AAR) to assault helicopters, however it was later confirmed that such arrangements will not be made. The C–130J–30 is well suited to provide passive defence to the platform in hostile environment as the ATK AN/AAR–47 missile warning system uses electro–optic sensors to detect missile exhaust and advanced signal processing algorithms and spectral selection to analyse and prioritise threats. Sensors are mounted near the nose just below the second cockpit window and in the tail cone. The BAE Systems AN/ALR–56M Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) is a superheterodyne receiver operating in the 2 GHz to 20 GHz bands. A low–band antenna and four high–band quadrant antennae are installed near the nose section below the second window of the cockpit and in the tail cone. The BAE Systems Integrated Defense Solutions AN/ ALE–47 countermeasures system is capable of dispensing chaff and infrared flares in addition to the POET and GEN–X active expendable decoys.
The Lockheed Martin AN/ALQ– 157 infrared countermeasures system generates a varying frequency–agile infrared jamming signal. The infrared transmitter is surface mounted at the aft end of the main undercarriage bay fairing. Meanwhile, the USAF has selected the Northrop Grumman Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system based on the AN/ AAQ–24(V) NEMESIS to equip its C–130 aircraft. The primary sensor is the Northrop Grumman MODAR 4,000–colour weather and navigation radar with a range of 250 nautical miles installed in the upward hinged dielectric radome in the nose of the aircraft. The principal special operations suite is the AN/AAQ–22 Star SAFIRE III electro–optical/infrared Forward Looking Infra–Red (FLIR) sensor providing full digital high–definition (1280x720) video compliant with United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) specifications. This sensor system is suitable for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Search and Rescue (SAR), maritime patrol, border patrol, and force protection missions. Mounted on a gyro– stabilised platform, Star SAFIRE HD features megapixel thermal, daylight, and low–light cameras with 120x magnification optics, laser payloads and a fully – integrated Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to precisely locate targets.
By Sayan Majumdar