The last WC-130H of AFRC’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron has departed Keesler AFB, Miss., finalizing the unit’s conversion to the newer and more advanced WC-130J. All of the “Hurricane Hunters” C-130Hs have been relocated to other squadrons, which will continue to fly them for intratheater airlift missions. The last H—#980—went to AFRC’s 913th Airlift Wing at Willow Grove ARS, Penn.
The Air Force on March 12 awarded contract modifications worth a combined $2.4 billion to Boeing to procure an undisclosed number of E-7 Wedgetail as part of the program's engineering and manufacturing development phase and continue work on the airborne battle management aircraft’s radar.