Members of the Canadian Air Force arrived at Little Rock AFB, Ark., recently for a close up view of how the US trains its C-130J aircrews. The 12 Canadians—aircrew and maintainers—spent a week absorbing training lessons and information about the newest Hercules, in preparation for transition from the current Canadian fleet of C-130Es and Hs to the J models. Canada currently plans to buy 17 C-130Js from Lockheed Martin. Canadian Maj. Derek Miller, operational requirements manager on this program, said that it’s time for Canada to “trade up to a digital airframe” from its older C-130s, which “have begun to show signs of age.”
The Air Force plans to start buying thousands of advanced new handheld radios in 2027 for downed aircrew to communicate with search-and-rescue forces, a capability spotlighted earlier this year during the recovery of two aviators shot down in Iran.