2016
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Germany and France announced plans on Tuesday (Oct 4) to share an air base and transport planes as part of a military shake-up in the wake of Britain's vote to quit the European Union. The two countries signed an agreement with a view to sharing C-130J Super Hercules military transport planes, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in Paris. His German counterpart Ursula von der Leyen, in Paris to sign the deal, told reporters both countries wanted to have the new arrangement in place by 2021. France ordered four C-130Js from US company Lockheed in January. Germany was looking to acquire between four and six of the same aircraft and to base th…
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Israel's fourth Lockheed Martin C-130J "Samson" tactical transport arrived at an air force base in the country in mid-October. It will be followed by another two examples by the end of this year. The Israeli air force's "Elephants" squadron, which operates the new-generation Hercules, has already tested the C-130J during aerial refueling missions with a Boeing 707 tanker, and is currently testing its low-level flight capabilities using some Israeli-developed systems. As deliveries of the tactical transport continue, the air force's flight test center has completed operational testing of special systems that were installed on the US-built type for Israel. Most of…
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Airmen and ski-equipped aircraft from the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing have started their annual journey to Antarctica. Two ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules aircraft and 23 Airmen left Stratton Air National Guard Base on Tuesday, October 18 to participate in the wing’s 29th season supporting Operation Deep Freeze, the military component of the U.S. Antarctic Program, which is managed by the National Science Foundation. The first LC-130 to leave Stratton departed Oct. 14 and is now in Christchurch, New Zealand – the last stop before Antarctica. Two more planes are scheduled to depart Stratton within the week. Throughout the season, which runs thr…
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The Montana Air National Guard are sending the C-130's on their first large-scale deployment on Monday. Earlier this month, the 120th Airlift Wing announced that it completed the two-year conversion process to the C-130's and was ready to deploy. The C-130 Hercules aircraft and support personnel, including operations and maintenance, will travel to Southwest Asia to participate in Operation Inherent Resolve. The Montana unit participated in previous deployments as a fighter wing. Most recently they deployed F-15's to Hawaii in 2010 and Alaska in 2013. And prior to that, they deployed with F-16's to Iraq in 2004 and 2008 and to Korea in 2006.…
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More than 1,000 C-130 Hercules operators, suppliers and industry partners gathered in Atlanta, Oct. 17-20, for the 28th Hercules Operators Council hosted by Lockheed Martin. This year’s event theme was “Saluting Hercules Service Centers — Maintaining the Partnership.” During the HOC, attendees focused on the 18 Lockheed Martin-certified C-130 service centers that provide unmatched global support to C-130 and L-100 operators. The HOC environment offers worldwide Hercules community an opportunity to share insights and perspectives on pertinent C-130 topics as they apply to legacy Hercules aircraft, current production model C-130J Super Hercules and the L-100/LM-10…
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The 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron flew two C-130J Super Hercules into Qayyarah West Airfield, Iraq, Oct. 21, the first coalition aircraft to land on the airfield since the start of Operation Inherent Resolve. The aircraft landed mere hours after repairs to the runway were completed, a project that’s been underway since Iraqi security forces retook the airfield from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in July of this year. “It’s taken several months to plan this mission,” said Lt. Col. John Poole, the 386th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron commander. “A big part of it was since before the airfield was taken, we knew that it had been damaged significa…
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HURLBURT FIELD, FLORIDA – In the not-too-distant future, when ground troops call for close-air support, the ‘Ghostrider’ and its deadly arsenal could come to their rescue. The AC-130J Ghostrider is set to be the most heavily-armed gunship in history, bristling with 30mm and 105mm cannons, AGM-176A Griffin missiles, and the ability to carry Hellfire missiles and GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs. But that’s not all. Some day in the future, the Ghostrider could even be equipped with a high-energy laser. That’s right. Lasers. When it hits the battlefield in a few short years, the Ghostrider will be the most heavily armed gunship in history – a badass plane providing…
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In dramatic fashion, a U.S. Air Force C-130J swept through the Hub City skies last week, landing in full force for the first time on the new crosswind runway at the Belen Alexander Municipal Airport. The dignitaries on the ground for the inaugural landing stood in awe with cell phones in hand pointed to the sky to capture the moment that’s been years in the making. The 58th Special Operations Wing out of Kirtland Air Force Base, along with the150th Special Operations Wing New Mexico Air National Guard unit will also use the runway. Col. Brenda Cartier, the commander of the 58th Special Operations Wing, stood on the loading ramp in the rear of the plane T…
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The U.S. Air Force’s Hurricane Hunters, based at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, have spent, by conservative estimate, more than 100 hours inside Hurricane Matthew. You may have heard of them. A Discovery Channel show featuring the unit — officially known as the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron under the 403rd Wing of the Air Force Reserves — aired for two seasons. Or maybe you haven’t heard of them. But if you’re one of 2.5 million people in four states who evacuated their homes in advance of Matthew — or one of the millions more who may be in the storm’s path, or one of the many more people nationwide who are following news of the storm, or for that…
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CAPITOL HILL: The law is the law. But the law must be written and it must then be interpreted in practice. Ay, there’s the rub. Add the National Guard, local politics, aging C-130s, and a wobbly defense budget in which hard choices must be made, and you’ve got a potent mix. That became abundantly clear Wednesday afternoon during a very brief hearing of the House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee. Rep. Jim Bridenstine laid into the head of Air Force acquisition, Billl LaPlante, and his colleague, Lt. Gen. James “Mike” Holmes, the deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and requirements. Holmes told the subcommittee he was “most concerned…
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Since its activation in 2002, the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing has been pivotal in the battle against violent extremism. The wing’s primary focus is delivering decisive airpower throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in order to provide stability to the region, a job that currently encompasses three separate flying missions. The wing’s traditional role in the fight has been providing tactical mobility airlift to coalition forces in the AOR. While this has been a steady, enduring mission for nearly fifteen years now, the start of Operation Inherent Resolve has brought new focus to the wing’s operations. “We’re the busiest aerial port in the t…
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The LM-100J Super Hercules (c/n 5818 ) commercial freighter is moving through pivotal production milestones, most recently completing body mate and wing installation at the Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) facility here. The LM-100J is the commercial version of Lockheed Martin’s proven C-130J Super Hercules aircraft — the unmatched tactical military airlifter of choice for 17 nations. The LM-100J will perform as a commercial, multi-purpose air freighter capable of rapid and efficient cargo transport. The LM-100J Super Hercules (c/n 5818 ) commercial freighter is moving through pivotal production milestones, most recently completing body mate and wing installation…
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The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) marked the completion of a major upgrade of all 17 CC-130J Hercules aircraft on Oct. 18, keeping Canada’s CC-130J Hercules at the forefront of airlift operations. The 17th and last upgraded Hercules was received on Oct. 13, 2016. The modifications include significant improvements to navigation, communication, and maintenance capabilities. The Hercules model J can now fly more efficiently amongst large commercial aircraft in heavily congested and controlled airspace and perform much more fuel-efficient long-range flights. It can now also conduct approaches in poor visibility and receive critical mission information from allied groun…
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C-130 Modernization The Air Force is progressing with a massive technological overhaul of its warzone-tested C-130 aircraft, giving the platform new radios, digital avionics, collision avoidance technology and reinforced "wing-boxes," service officials said. The Air Force remains vigilant about its C-130 fleet to ensure the airframes, wingboxes, avionics and communication systems remain safe and operational well into the 2030s and beyond. This is particularly true of the older 1980s-era C-130Hs, Air Force developers explained. “The thing that causes the greatest risk to the airplane is the life of the wing. We monitor the wing of the aircraft and as the …
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Only a quarter of France's Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules transport fleet is available for service at any point in time, official figures show. According to the numbers, the availability of France's 14 C-130s reached a nadir in 2015 with a weak 26.2% availability rate, equivalent to only 3 or 4 aircraft flyable at any time. An aircraft is said to be available when it can fulfil its mission within six hours of schedule. France's C-130 fleet, now 30 years old on average, had a 72% availability rate in 2011 but this has since been steadily going down. However an upgrade program was decided on in the middle of the year, with the delivery of modernized aircraft expec…
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The wheels of the first Iraqi Air Force C-130 Hercules touched down at Qayyarah West Airfield. Iraq, Nov. 11, 2016. The tactical airlift workhorse, loaded with supplies and equipment to resupply the Mosul offensive. The landing was much more than routine. It was symbolic. It represented the first time a fixed wing Iraqi aircraft loaded with cargo landed at the strategic airfield since it fell to Da'esh fighters in 2014. A U.S. Air Force Airman vectored the aircraft into the airspace while others marshaled in and offloaded the Iraqi C-130. These Airmen serve as some of the only ground-based Air Force personnel at Qayyarah West. Assigned to the 821st Contingency …
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A vehicle roars out of the back of an MC-130 at high speed, while nearby a man moves around in a virtual-reality headset. Above, winches are lowered and raised on a platform adorned with a Christmas tree. And at the center of it sits a former taco truck, now equipped with a really, really big gun. It’s not a fever dream of an Air Force maintainer, although it’s not far off. It’s the reality of Kirtland Air Force Base's “Monster Garage,” a key and innovative part of training airmen from the US Air Force Special Operation Command (AFSOC). During a visit to Kirtland in September, reporters accompanying Secretary of Defense Ash Carter got to tour the Garage in person, g…
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A C-130J Super Hercules comes to a screeching halt on a runway less than half the length of those typically used at stateside airfields. The cargo bay door is opened onto a pitch black airstrip – a shock for those used to seeing bright lights guiding pilots down the ramp. The airfield is near Farah, a remote location in western Afghanistan. For C-130J pilots belonging to the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron out of Bagram Airfield this is exactly the atypical situation they train for. “The crews always love the challenge – getting the Herk dirty, that’s what we live for,” said Lt. Col. Sarah Santoro, the 774th EAS commander. Afghanistan has been called the “He…
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Air Force C-130 cargo aircraft designed for firefighting may be used to help battle deadly wildfires scorching thousands of acres in Tennessee, an official said. Air Force Reserve Command is standing by to deploy C-130s equipped with the Modular Airborne Firefighting System, or MAFFS, which drop hundreds of pounds of fire retardant, according to Ann Skarban, a spokeswoman for the Air Force's 302nd Airlift Wing. The U.S. Forest Service, the entity responsible for requesting the MAFFS units, hasn't yet determined whether it will require the aircraft but a plan is in place if necessary, Skarban said. The 302nd Airlift Wing, which houses the aircraft at Peterso…
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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Santa Claus traded his sleigh and eight magically motivated reindeer for an Alaska Air National Guard C-130 Hercules during a Dec. 3, 2016, visit to Akiachak. Saint Nick’s journey to the Western Alaska village marked 59 years for Operation Santa Claus, an Alaska National Guard community-outreach effort dependent upon a legion of elfin volunteers as well as volunteers from Alaska businesses, non-profit organizations, and many who are supportive of the program. Though the magic hooves of Donner and Blitzen were temporarily replaced by the propeller blast of the 144th Airlift Squadron Hercules’ four turbine engines, Santa and M…
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Lockheed Martin Corp.’s unit, Rotary and Mission Systems, has won a modification contract from the U.S. Navy to incorporate the data integrity requirement into the current avionics obsolescence upgrade effort for the C-130T aircraft. Contract Details The contract is valued at $16.1 million. It was awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MA. Work is scheduled to be complete by Mar 2018. Majority of the work will be performed in Ottawa, Canada, while the rest in Owego, NY. The contract will use fiscal 2015 and 2016 aircraft procurement funds (Navy). Lockheed Martin Corp.’s unit, Rotary and Mission Systems, has won a modification con…
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Military members from the U.S. Air Force, Coast Guard and Navy, with international support from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and Royal Australian Air Force are joining forces to airdrop and deliver donated toys, clothes, food items and other necessities to remote islands across the Pacific Ocean as part of Operation Christmas Drop 2016. The annual training mission officially kicked off during a ceremony Dec. 6 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, where military leaders across the island pushed the first pallet of donated goods into a C-130 Hercules. Military members from the U.S. Air Force, Coast Guard and Navy, with international support from the Japan Air…
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The weather conditions are treacherous. But that's to be expected for members of the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing who participate in the U.S. Air Force's Operation Deep Freeze mission in Antarctica. Members in charge of flight operations wrestle with unexpected challenges when delivering supplies and cargo to scientists conducting research at the southernmost point of Earth's surface. The weather conditions are treacherous. But that's to be expected for members of the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing who participate in the U.S. Air Force's Operation Deep Freeze mission in Antarctica. Members in charge of flight ope…
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The 386th Air Expeditionary Wing oversees the busiest aerial port of debarkation in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The wing plays a major logistical role in getting needed supplies downrange. The C-130H Hercules in particular stands out as the only aircraft versatile enough to help the 386th complete this mission. “A lot of places that (C-130s) are going to are unimproved strips, smaller strips, air strips that are as small as 3,000 feet,” said Maj. Ken Fechter, 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Maintenance Unit officer in charge. SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The 386th Air Expeditionary Wing oversees the busiest aerial port o…
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Saber Junction is U.S. Army Europe's annual combat training center certification exercise designed to evaluate the readiness of one of its two combat brigades to conduct unified land operations (a simultaneous combination of offensive, defensive and stability missions), with an emphasis on tactical interoperability among allied and partner-nation forces. This year the exercise focused on the 173rd Airborne Brigade, Vincenza, Italy, and took place from March 31 - April 24. Saber Junction is U.S. Army Europe's annual combat training center certification exercise designed to evaluate the readiness of one of its two combat brigades to conduct unified land operation…
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