Beech Aircraft

Beechcraft RC-12 HURON

Photo by Coil B. Thouanel

In October 1972, Beech flew the first Model 200 Super King Air as a development of the Model 100 King Air with a T-tail, more powerful engines on a longer span wings, greater fuel capacity, and a higher cabin pressure differential. The result was an attractive light transport offering greater range and operating ceiling than the King Air. The first three aircraft were delivered to the US Army in 1974 as RU-21J electronic surveillance machine in the "Cefly Lancer" program with the "Guardrail" system a less advanced version of the equipment fitted to the later RC-21D. To provide its front line forces in Europe and South Korea with a superior battlefield signals intelligence platform, the US Army later took 13 examples of the RC-12D with 850-hp PT6A-41 turboprops, the USD-9(v)2 Improved Guardrail V" signals intelligence and direction finding system, a secure data link for real time downloading of data, two defensive electronic countermeasures pods, and a missile detection system. In 1985 there appeared the latest version, the RC-12H based on the B200 Super King Air. The type has a different engine mark and the "Guardrail Common Sensor" Sigint system, and six were delivered.