Aircraft/Missile Information
The EC-121R aircraft used by the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing were all refurbished ex U.S. Navy aircraft previously retired to the "boneyard" at Davis Monthan. A total of 30 aircraft were modified for the specialized Batcat mission. Batcat EC-121R's were modified to one of two specifications, depending on the equipment installed. Aircraft were equipped with either passive ECM only (Radar Homing and Warning, or "RHAW"), or active ECM aircraft with RHAW plus expanded receiving and active jamming capability. Twenty EC-121R's were equipped with RHAW only, the other 10 equipped with the more extensive active ECM and were referred to by the 553rd as aircraft with "special equipment installed."
