Pleased in St. Louis:

The Boeing folks are “extremely pleased” that the Air Force has recertified the need for the C-130 Avionics Modernization Program after its Nunn-McCurdy breach. Air Force acquisition chief, Sue Payton, told reporters Wednesday that the program would continue but at a reduced number. A Boeing statement yesterday noted the new number of Hercules getting upgrades would be 222, about 80 fewer airframes than planned previously. The company said the “recertification announcement reaffirms that, by every measure of program health—cost, quality, technology, and execution—the Boeing C-130 AMP is a successful program.”