The Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star was an American Airborne early warning and control radar surveillance aircraft operational in the 1950s in both the United States Navy and United States Air Force.
USN Variants
WV-1
2 prototypes, L-749A Constellation, designated PO-1W before 1952
EC-121K (WV-2)
Main USN variant, designated PO-2W before 1952; 244 ordered, 142 produced (the rest to USAF).
JC-121K
One modified EC-121K used as a US Army avionics test bed
NC-121K
Unknown number modified as special mission aircraft
YEC-121K. One modified avionics test bed
EC-121L (WV-2E)
One modified WV-2, test bed for rotating radar dome with an AN/APS-70 radar
EC-121M (WV-2Q)
ELINT collection variant, 13 modified WV-2
WC-121N (WV-3)
Weather reconnaissance variant, 8 modified WV-2
EC-121P
Unknown number modified from EC-121K as anti-submarine variant JEC-121P.
3 EC-121P used by the USAF
USAF Variants
RC-121C
10 produced, initial USAF variant
JC-121C
2 converted from C-121C and 1 TC-121C as avionics test beds
TC-121C
9 RC-121C modified before 1962 as crew trainers
EC-121D
73 produced 1953–55 as main USAF variant and 1 converted from C-121C, originally designated RC-121D
EC-121D Quick Look
1 test bed for QRC-248 IFF transponder interrogator
EC-121H
42 USAF upgrades in 1962, 35x EC-121D and 7x WV-2s transferred from the Navy
EC-121J
2 USAF EC-121D modified with upgraded electronics
EC-121M Rivet Top
1 EC-121D test bed for Rivet Gym crypto logic linguist electronics suite, originally designated EC-121K
EC-121Q
4 EC-121D modified with upgraded electronics for USAF Gold Digger missions
EC-121R
30 EC-121K / EC-121P transferred to USAF in 1966–1967 and converted to Batcat sensor signal processor
EC-121S
5 converted for Pennsylvania Air National Guard from USAF C-121 transports
EC-121T
Final USAF variant. A total of 22 T’s were converted from 15x EC-121D and 7x EC-121H.
XW2V-1
Proposed naval development with new features such as 4 Allison T56-A8 turboprop engines, L-1649A Starliner wings and Bomarc missiles for defense.
None built; was designated L-084 due to the large differences from its predecessors.
Specifications
Crew
Typically six flight crew, 11–25 radar crew
Length
116 ft 2 in (35.40 m)
Wingspan
126 ft 2 in (38.45 m)
Height
24 ft 9 in (7.54 m)
Wing area
1,650 sq ft (153.27 m2)
Empty weight
69,210 lb (31,387 kg)
Max take-off weight
143,000 lb (65,000 kg)
Powerplant
4 × Wright R-3350-34 turbo compound 18-cylinder supercharged radial engines, 3,400 hp (2,536 kW) each
