US Air Force EC-130H Compass Call Aircraft’s Spectacular Elephant Walk

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The U.S. Air Force 55th Electronic Combat Group (55th ECG) conducted the ‘elephant walk’ exercise, launching approximately seven Lockheed EC-130H Compass Call jammers in a row at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, on June 28, 2021. This event showcased the 55th Electronic Combat Group’s ability to rapidly generate multi-ship, combat-ready sorties with any of their aircraft, ensuring quick reaction and counter-communication firepower readiness anytime, anywhere.

An elephant walk is a U.S. Air Force term for the taxiing of military aircraft right before a minimum-interval takeoff, often performed as part of a readiness exercise. The term “elephant walk” dates back to World War II when the Army Air Forces had large numbers of bombers and fighters that would regularly taxi to the runway in a single-file line, resembling a trail of elephants.

The Elephants Walk exercise harkens back to World War II when the Army Air Forces had a large number of bombers, which would regularly queue up on the runway for takeoff. The Army Air Forces had a large number of bombers, which would regularly queue up on the runway for takeoff, resembling a trail of elephants. This exercise demonstrated the 55th Electronic Combat Group’s ability to conduct rapid, synchronized taxi movements of aircraft on the runway.

The 55th Electronic Combat Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base provides combat-ready EC-130H Compass Call aircraft, crews, maintenance, and operational support to combatant commanders. The group is a geographically separated unit (GSU) that falls under the command of the 55th Wing at Offutt AFB, NE. The group also plans and executes information operations, including information warfare and electronic attack, in support of their combatant commanders. Members of the 55 ECG conduct initial qualification and requalification training for 20 aircrew specialty codes.

The EC-130H Compass Call is an electronic attack aircraft flown by the United States Air Force. Based on the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules airframe, the aircraft is heavily modified to provide electronic warfare capabilities, particularly in the realms of electronic attack, surveillance, and reconnaissance, performing intensive counter-communication operations, as well as carrying out other forms of electronic attack. Planned upgrades will add the ability to attack enemy air defenses and network communications.

U.S. Air Force EC-130H Compass Call aircraft taxi down the flight line during a show-of-force readiness exercise at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, on June 28, 2021.

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