United States EC-130J Commando Solo PSYOP aircraft, Libya, 2011 The NATO intervention in Libya in 2011 included a signi cant information element, so carried some aspects of a hybrid threats operation. A key asset was the EC-130J Commando Solo, a modi ed C-130J Super Hercules, which was used for psychological operations (PSYOP) and airborne Information Operations missions via digital and analog radio and television broadcasts, either pre-recorded or live, in all the standard AM, FM, HF, TV, and military communications bands. The aircraft broadcast messages in Arabic, French, and English aimed at both military and civilian personnel. Messages were either generally pro-intervention or speci cally invited Libyan military personnel to leave their positions and return to their families. Libyan ship crews were told that if they attempted to leave port, they would immediately be attacked and destroyed. The Commando Solo was operated by 193rd Special Operations Wing (193 SOW), a unit of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard operationally allocated to the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) and in Operation Odyssey Dawn operating out of Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. The aircraft was equipped with vertical trailing wire antenna under the n, IR-countermeasures on either side of the rear fuselage, an underwing pylon (23x6ft) for equipment, and X-antennae on either side of the n. The antennae under the fuselage had been upgraded as compared to previous versions of the aircraft. In politically sensitive or hostile territories, the Commando Solo often ew missions at night to reduce the risk of detection. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)