The C-12 Huron is the military designation for a series of twin-engine
turboprop aircraft based on the Beechcraft Super King Air and Beechcraft
1900. C-12 variants are used by the United States Air Force, United States
Army, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. These aircraft are
used for various duties, including embassy support, medical evacuation, as
well as passenger and light cargo transport. Some aircraft are modified
with surveillance systems for various missions, including the Cefly Lancer,
Guardrail and Project Liberty programs. Design and development
The first C-12A models entered service with the U.S. Army in 1974 and was used
as a liaison and general personnel transport. The aircraft was essentially
an "off-the-shelf" Super King Air 200, powered by the type's standard Pratt &
Whitney Canada PT6A-41 engines. The U.S. Navy followed suit in 1979,
ordering a version of the Super King Air A200C, designating it the UC-12B, for
logistics support between Naval and Marine Corps air stations, air
facilities, and other activities, both in CONUS and overseas. The cabin can
readily accommodate cargo, passengers or both. It is also equipped to accept
litter patients in medical evacuation missions. Through 1982, the Navy ordered
64 of these aircraft. A U.S. Air Force variant of the plane
for surveillance roles primarily over Afghanistan and Iraq was the MC-12W
Liberty. For that variant, Beechcraft built the basic plane and then sent it
to Greenville, Texas where sophisticated intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance equipment was installed by L-3 Communications Missions
Integration. As of 2013 the Liberty program has exceeded 300,000 combat
flying hours. The MC-12W was rushed into combat as a supplemental surveillance
and signals intelligence asset; since its first combat mission on 10 June
2009, the aircraft flew 400,000 combat hours in 79,000 combat sorties, aiding
in the kill or capture of “more than 8,000 terrorists” and uncovering 650
weapons caches. With its roles taken over by the growing MQ-9 Reaper fleet,
the Air Force decided to divest itself of the 41 Liberty aircraft and turn them
over to the U.S. Army and U.S. Special Operations Command, which will be
completed by October 2015. = C-12J=
To meet the needs of transporting larger groups, the U.S. Army purchased six
C-12J aircraft, based on the Beechcraft 1900C commuter airliner. One of the
military C-12Js is used for GPS jamming tests at the 586th Flight Test Squadron,
Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. Another is based at the 517th Airlift
Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. Three were based at the 55th
Airlift Flight, Osan Air Base, South Korea. They have been relocated to the
459th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan. The remaining two are used by
U.S. Army Aviation. Although the UD- series 1900s were
manufactured exclusively for military use, the United States military and
other military and government organizations use 1900s from other
series such as the UB-series 1900C, and 1900Ds which may be found elsewhere.
Variants = King Air 200-based variants=
C-12A Used by the U.S. Army for liaison and
attache transport. Based on the King Air A200.
UC-12B U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Corps version with
an additional cargo door. Based on the King Air A200C.
NC-12B U.S. Navy single-aircraft version,
UC-12B BuNo 161311 equipped with four P-3C type Sonobuoy launchers.
TC-12B U.S. Navy training version developed by
conversion of UC-12B airframes. C-12C
U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force version of the C-12A with upgraded engines. Based
on the King Air A200. C-12D
U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force version. Based on the King Air A200CT, changes
include larger cargo door, "high-flotation" landing gear.
RC-12D Special mission, SIGINT aircraft for the
U.S. Army. UC-12D
Based on the King Air A200CT. C-12E
Upgraded C-12A aircraft for the USAF. 29 C-12As were retro-fitted with two Pratt
& Whitney Canada PT6A-42 turboprop engines.
C-12F U.S. Air Force transport version. Based
on the King Air A200CF and the King Air B200C.
RC-12F U.S. Navy version of the UC-12F modified
with surface search radar. UC-12F
U.S. Navy version based on the King Air B200C. Cockpit upgraded to Proline 21.
RC-12G U.S. Army version used for real-time
tactical intelligence support under the Crazyhorse program. Based on the King
Air A200CT. Previously operated by U.S. Army Reserve aviation units.
RC-12H Special mission, battlefield SIGINT
aircraft for the U.S. Army. C-12L
Three A200s acquired for use in the Cefly Lancer program as RU-21Js. In 1984
the three aircraft modified with new VIP interiors, and returned to the U.S. Army
as C-12Ls. UC-12M
U.S. Navy version. Cockpit upgraded to Proline 21.
RC-12M U.S. Navy version. Upgraded cockpit
instrumentation, plus other systems and structural upgrades.
RC-12N U.S. Army Guardrail Common Sensor system
aircraft. C-12R
Off the shelf BE200 modified with EFIS glass cockpit instrumentation.
C-12T Upgrade of earlier U.S. Army C-12F
versions with improved cockpit instrumentation.
C-12U Upgrade of U.S. Army C-12T versions with
improved cockpit instrumentation in order to meet global air traffic
management directives. RU-21J
Special mission, battlefield ELINT aircraft. Three A200s were brought by
the U.S. Army for use in the Cefly Lancer program in the early 1970s.
RC-12X Intelligence-gathering platform. 14
ordered, the first delivered to the U.S. Army in January 2011.
C-12V Upgraded C-12R with Proline 21 FMS,
currently used exclusively in Iraq and Afghanistan
= King Air 350-based variants= C-12S
U.S. Army version based on the King Air 350, with seating for 8 to 15 passengers
and quick cargo conversion capability. MC-12W Liberty
USAF version modified for the Intelligence, Surveillance &
Reconnaissance role; 8 King Air 350s and 29 King Air 350ERs. In service since
June 2009 in Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently being transferred to US Army.
UC-12W U.S. Navy version based on the King Air
350 = Beechcraft 1900-based variant=
C-12J Used by the U.S. Air Force's Pacific Air
Forces, and Air Force Materiel Command. It carries 2 crew and 19 passengers. The
C-12J is based on the Beechcraft 1900C and carries the serials UD-1 through
UD-6. The Air Force currently operates only 4
C-12Js. 3 are operated by the 459th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base,
Japan and 1 by the Air Force Materiel Command from Holloman AFB, New Mexico.
The Army has C-12Js in use. Note: The U.S. military also operates
other King Air versions under other designations, including the C-6 Ute and
T-44 series. In addition, there are a number of Beechcraft 1900s operated by
the military under civilian registrations, using their civilian
model designations. Operators
Greece Hellenic Army
Israel Israeli Air Force
Pakistan Pakistan Air Force
United States United States Air Force
United States Army United States Marine Corps
United States Navy United States National Guard
Specifications Data from Jane's
General characteristics Crew: 1–5
Capacity: 13 passengers Length: 43 ft 9 in
Wingspan: 54 ft 6 in Height: 15 ft 0 in
Wing area: 303 ft² Empty weight: 7,755 lb
Max. takeoff weight: 12,500 lb Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada
PT6A-42 turboprops, 850 shp each Performance
Maximum speed: 333 mph at 15,000 ft Range: 2,075 mi with maximum fuel and 45
minute reserve Service ceiling: 35,000 ft
Rate of climb: 2,450 ft/min Wing loading: 41.3 lb/ft²
Fuel consumption: 0.1667 gal/mi Power/mass: 0.14 hp/lb
See also Related development
Beechcraft King Air Beechcraft Super King Air
Beechcraft 1900 Aircraft of comparable role,
configuration and era Cessna 425
Cessna 441 Mitsubishi Mu-2
Piper PA-31T Cheyenne Embraer EMB 121 Xingu
References Notes
Bibliography DoD 4120-15L, Model Designation of
Military Aerospace Vehicles, United States Department of Defense, 12 May
2004 External links
C-12 on globalsecurity.org C-12 on fas.org
API model application chart, provided variant model basis and serial number
ranges MC-12W Liberty ISR Aircraft, USA