?? US A/C in AFGHANISTAN ??

1) I RECENTLY FOUND THIS PICTURE OF A HH-60G TAKEN DURING MILITARY OPS IN AFGHANISTAN, SHOWING AN AIRCRAFT OF THE 66th EXPEDITIONARY RESCUE SQUADRON IN APRIL 2002. I NOTICED THIS BOX AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE RETRACTABLE BOOM. IT IS THE FIRST TIME I SEE THIS EQUIPMENT ON A US HELICOPTER (HH-60G, MH-60G or else…)

I THOUGHT THE SIZE OF THIS THING WAS QUITE IMPORTANT, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO GUESS WHAT ARE THESE WHITE SPOTS AND THESE RED STRIPS ON THE FRONT FACE…

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS UNIDENTIFIED BOX? IS THIS AN ECM SYSTEM AGAINST SAM RADARS FOR EXAMPLE?

I WOULD BE PLEASED TO READ ANSWERS OR EVEN THEORIES ABOUT THIS!

2) SECONDLY, IN THE SAME ARTICLE ABOUT MILITARY OPS IN AFGHANISTAN, THEY RELATED PSY-OPS WERE EXECUTED BY EC-130E COMMANDO SOLO, ESPECIALLY THE RIVER RIDER BROADCASTING VERSION OF THE FLEET OF EC-130E, RESPONSIBLE FOR EMITTING PROPAGANDA IN AM AND SHORTWAVE BAND FOR EXAMPLE.

AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE ARE ONLY FOUR AIRCRAFT IN THIS CONFIGURATION WITH THE X-SHAPED ANTENNA ON THE FIN TO EMIT TV PROGRAMS, BUT THIS ARTICLE SAID THERE WERE FIVE A/C OF THE SAME VERSION…

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS CURRENTLY A PROGRAM TO MODIFY OTHER EC-130E TO THIS STANDARD?

THANKS FOR ALL!
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