US Air Forces in Europe yesterday celebrated the arrival of its first C-130J transport. The aircraft is the first of 14 that will be delivered to Ramstein AB, Germany, by next year, C-130J manufacturer Lockheed Martin said in a release. They will be part of Ramstein’s 86th Airlift Wing, replacing the aged C-130Es that the wing’s 37th Airlift Squadron has been operating. “USAFE truly does bring a lot to the fight, in particular the vital airlift capability we provide in the global war on terror and vital humanitarian operations the world over,” Gen. Roger Brady, USAFE commander, said during the welcoming ceremony. He added, “The C-130J will give us an even greater capacity to perform all those missions.” Ramstein is scheduled to receive 10 C-130Js this year and the remaining four next year, according to Lockheed.
The Pentagon plans to use U.S. Air Force C-17s and C-130s to deport 5,400 people currently detained by Customs and Border Protection, officials announced Jan. 22, the first act in President Donald Trump’s sweeping promise to crack down on undocumented immigrants and increase border security.