Air Mobility Command has declared initial operational capability for the C-130J after the new Hercules transport met “specific criteria,” outlined in this AMC news release. Basically mobility crews employed real field conditions over nine months of testing, showing both what the aircraft could do and how well the aircrews could handle the aircraft. AMC noted that the Maryland Air National Guard’s 135th Airlift Group was the first operational unit to get its full complement of aircraft, or primary aircraft authorized, and has reached the IOC manning requirement. Maryland ANG airmen have deployed frequently to Southwest Asia with the J model.
The U.S. continued to move a significant amount of airpower toward the Middle East in recent days as talks to forge a nuclear deal with Iran hung in the balance. Flight tracking data indicate there was unusually heavy movement of dozens of fighter jets and other assets that might be…
