The
19th newly built C-130J transport assigned to the 317th Airlift Group at Dyess AFB, Tex., touched down at the base, announced manufacturer Lockheed Martin. Maj. Gen. Scott Hanson, Air War College commandant at Maxwell AFB, Ala., piloted the C-130J on its flight from the company’s assembly plant in Marietta, Ga., to Dyess on May 3. So far this year, Dyess has received six C-130Js, including two that arrived there last month. Dyess will eventually operate a fleet of 28 Super Hercules airplanes, which are gradually replacing the base’s legacy model C-130s. (Includes Dyess release)
After years of experiments and tests, senior Air Force leaders say they're on the verge of using C-17s and other cargo aircraft to launch cruise missiles via airdrop, touting the development as a way to bolster the combat fleet and a major shift in the service’s mindset.