Beechcraft C-12 Huron

Originally designated U-25A, the first C-12A models entered service with the U.S. Army in 1974 and were 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 (modified with a 1.32 m by 1.32 m; 52 inch by 52 inch cargo door from the Super King Air 200C), 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. As of 2013 the Liberty program had 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 was completed by October 2015. The Air Force's final MC-12W deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom ended on 13 October 2015. TC-12B The TC-12B Huron was a twin-engine, pressurized version of the Beechcraft Super King Air 200. Twenty-five served with the U.S. Navy with Training Squadron 35 (VT-35), the Navy's only TC-12B Huron squadron based at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas, home of the Training Air Wing 4 (TAW-4). The TC-12B was acquired to accommodate an increased multi-engine pilot training requirement when the USAF began sending C-130 track student pilots to the Navy for advanced training. Command of VT-35 alternated between a Navy Commander and a USAF Lt. Col and instructors of both services staffed the squadron. The Navy retired the TC-12B aircraft on 16 May 2017 after the USAF ceased sending student pilots eliminating the need for the TC-12B as the Navy's fleet of T-44C aircraft was sufficient to meet the USN, USMC and USCG multi engine pilot training need. UC-12F/M The UC-12F and UC-12M are light passenger and cargo airlift versions procured for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from 1986 and 1987 respectively. They are based on the Super King Air 200, use PT6A-42 engines, and have a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of . They are configured as combi aircraft and are also used for multi-engine training and testing. 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. According to its 2022 Marine Aviation Plan, United States Marine Corps Aviation plans to phase out the Model 200-based UC-12F and UC-12M along with the Cessna UC-35D and replace them with new UC-12Ws by 2032. ==Variants==

King Air 200-based variants ;C-12A: Used by the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force for liaison and attache transport. Based on the King Air A200, with PT6A-38 engines driving three-bladed propellers, and normally seating for eight passengers. 60 delivered to US Army and 30 to USAF, with one to Greek Air Force. Survivors later upgraded to C-12C standard. ;UC-12B: U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Corps version with an additional cargo door and powered by PT6A-41 engines. Based on the King Air A200C. 66 built. ;NC-12B: Conversion of UC-12B as testbed for sonobuoys, fitted with four sonobuoy launchers. One converted. ;RC-12D: Special mission, SIGINT aircraft for the U.S. Army, fitted with Guardrail V SIGINT system. 13 converted from C-12Ds, with one de-converted to C-12D standard ;RC-12F: U.S. Navy version of the UC-12F modified with AN/APS-140/504 surface search radar. Two converted for range surveillance duties at the Pacific Missile Range Facility. Radar later removed and aircraft converted to operational support duties. Cockpit upgraded to Proline 21. ;RC-12G: U.S. Army version used for real-time tactical intelligence support under the Crazyhorse program. Based on C-12D, three built. ;C-12L: Three A200s acquired for use in the Cefly Lancer program as RU-21Js; CEFLY is an acronym standing for Communications and Electronics Forward Looking Flying. In 1984 these were modified with new VIP interiors, returning to the U.S. Army as C-12Ls. ;UC-12M: Support aircraft for U.S. Navy based in King Air B200C. Twelve built. ;C-12V: Upgraded C-12R with Proline 21 FMS King Air 300-based variants ;Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (MARSS): MULTI-INT ISR platform. The MARSS provides the commander with a multi-intelligence collection capability to accurately detect, identify, and report threat targets in near real-time. IMINT, COMINT and ELINT intercept capability. As of June 2010, 11 MARSS were created from outfitted Beechcraft King Air B-300 aircraft. 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. ;: USAF version modified for the Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) role; originally 8 King Air 350s and 29 King Air 350ERs and ending with 42 350ERs (including one combat loss). In service since June 2009 in Iraq and Afghanistan and globally for USSOCOM. All aircraft were transferred to USSOCOM, US Army, and other US government agencies by 2015. The last MC-12W Liberty under U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command was retired in September 2025. The Royal Canadian Air Force ordered 3 similar, if not exact, variants. ;UC-12W: U.S. Marine Corps version based on the King Air 350. ;: U.S. Army nomenclature for the modified MC-12W aircraft with EMARSS-S installed. 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. Special military variants The following RC-12 variants, although similar to earlier RC-12s based on the King Air 200, combined upgraded engines (1,100 shp PT6A-67) - up to as high as 16,500 lbs). ;RC-12K: SIGINT aircraft for US Army based on King Air A200CT, with PT-6A-67 engines driving four-bladed propellers and with increased ( max take-off weight. Fitted with Guardrail/Common Sensor System 4 system. Nine built. ;RC-12P: SIGINT aircraft for US Army based on King Air A200CT/C-12F airframe with PT-6A-67 engines driving four-bladed propellers and max take-off weight. Fitted with Guardrail/Common Sensor System 2 system. 9 built. ;RC-12X, X+: Intelligence-gathering platform. 14 ordered, the first delivered to the U.S. Army in January 2011. 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==

; • Fuerza Aerea Argentina • Armada Argentina ; • Royal Canadian Air Force to support Special Operations. ; • Hellenic Army ; • Israeli Air Force ; • Pakistan Air Force ; • Philippine Navy ; • United States Air Force • United States Army 116 Beech A200 King Air as of January 2025 • United States Marine Corps • United States Navy • NASA ==Specifications (Beechcraft C-12 Huron)==