OVERVIEW: The EO-5B ARL-C is a U.S. Army airborne intelligence aircraft based on the De Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash-7 platform, configured for communications intelligence (COMINT) and battlefield surveillance. Designated RC-7A in military service, it entered operational use in 1993 as part of the Airborne Reconnaissance Low (ARL) program.

DETAILS: The EO-5B ARL-C (Airborne Reconnaissance Low–Communications) was developed in the early 1990s to enhance the U.S. Army’s airborne signals collection capabilities using a quiet, short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft for low-altitude surveillance. It is built on the DHC-7-102 turboprop airframe, modified with specialized communications intelligence payloads developed by L3Harris and the U.S. Army's Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM). The aircraft is powered by four Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-50 turboprop engines, cruises around Mach 0.32 (approx. 370 km/h), and has a mission range of approximately 2,500 km depending on payload. It is equipped with onboard operator stations for real-time COMINT analysis, data recording, and signal direction finding.

The ARL-C configuration specializes in collecting voice and data transmissions across enemy communication bands, employing advanced COMINT suites mounted internally with multiple antenna arrays along the fuselage and wing roots. The EO-5B is externally identifiable by its belly-mounted fairings and lateral antenna blisters. It is part of the broader ARL system which includes imaging (ARL-M) and radar (ARL-E) variants, but the EO-5B/ARL-C is dedicated solely to communications intelligence.

TYPE: COMINT Reconnaissance Aircraft

FUNCTION: Provides airborne interception, geolocation, and analysis of enemy communications to support tactical operations, electronic order of battle construction, and force protection. Its STOL capability and low acoustic signature allow operations close to frontlines with reduced detection risk.

NOTE:
IOC: 1978 (DHC-7), 1993 (EO-5B ARL-C / RC-7A)
Manufacturer: De Havilland Canada / Modified by L3Harris (United States)
Operators: United States
Conflict used in: Kosovo War (1999), Iraq War (2003), Afghanistan (2001–2021)

SOURCE:
U.S. Army INSCOM: https://www.inscom.army.mil ; L3Harris: https://www.l3harris.com ; U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command (AMCOM): https://www.army.mil/amcom ; Federation of American Scientists (FAS): https://fas.org/irp/program/collect/arl-c.htm