The Air Force has just ordered four more C-130J tactical airlifters, three of which possibly would go to replenish its special operations Hercules based on a request the service issued just last month. The fourth aircraft goes to the Marine Corps as an aerial refueling KC-130J. Prime contractor Lockheed Martin is to deliver the four Herks in 2010. Several lawmakers have been pushing the Air Force to order additional J Models, which have proven highly capable in Southwest Asia operations, to keep the production line open.
The Air Force is leaning toward a less-sophisticated autonomous aircraft in the second increment of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, the services chief futurist said. He also suggested that the next increment of CCA may be air-launched, a la the "Rapid Dragon" experiments conducted by the service in recent years.