Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star - Variants

Variants

U.S. Navy variants

WV-1

Two 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 went to the USAF).

JC-121K

One modified EC-121K used as a U.S. Army avionics testbed

NC-121K

Unknown number modified as special mission aircraft

YEC-121K

One modified avionics testbed

EC-121L (WV-2E)

One modified WV-2, testbed for rotating radar dome with an AN/APS-70 radar

EC-121M (WV-2Q)

Electronic intelligence collection variant, 13 modified WV-2

WC-121N (WV-3)

Weather reconnaissance variant, eight modified WV-2

EC-121P

Unknown number modified from EC-121K as anti-submarine variant

JEC-121P

Three EC-121P used by the USAF

U.S. Air Force variants

RC-121C

10 produced, initial USAF variant

JC-121C

Two converted from C-121C and one TC-121C as avionics testbeds

TC-121C

Nine RC-121C modified before 1962 as crew trainers

EC-121D

73 produced 1953-55 as main USAF variant and one converted from C-121C, originally designated RC-121D

EC-121D Quick Look

One testbed for QRC-248 IFF transponder interrogator

EC-121H

42 USAF upgrades in 1962, 35 EC-121D and seven WV-2s transferred from the Navy

EC-121J

Two USAF EC-121D modified with upgraded electronics

EC-121M Rivet Top

One EC-121D testbed for Rivet Gym cryptologic linguist electronics suite, originally designated EC-121K

EC-121Q

Four 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

Five converted for Pennsylvania Air National Guard from USAF C-121 transports

EC-121T

Final USAF variant. A total of 22 Ts were converted from 15 EC-121D and seven EC-121H. One is on display at Peterson Air and Space Museum.

XW2V-1

Proposed naval development with new features such as four 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.