The Air Force’s top special operator, Lt. Gen. Michael Wooley, told attendees at a Capitol Hill seminar Tuesday that, given his choice, the first asset he wants to recapitalize is Air Force Special Operations Command’s C-130s. “If I have a choice, I want to recapitalize our C-130 fleet,” he said, noting the command is currently undertaking a study to see what would be the likely follow-on aircraft for the C-130 fleet, including AFSOC’s MC-130 refuelers and transports and AC-130 gunships. He said the command has just received the first two C-130s recently modified as AC-130H Spectres; another two are nearing completion. In a perfect world, Wooley added that he would also want to accelerate the delivery of the command’s CV-22s, since they are “dribbling along” towards an initial operational capability targeted for 2009.
Earlier this spring, the 388th Fighter Wing proved just 12 Airmen can operate an F-35 contingency location, refueling and rearming the fighters at spots across Georgia and South Carolina. The demonstration, part of exercise Agile Flag 23-1, marks yet another proof of concept for the Air Force’s plan to send…