Lockheed Martin has presented the Air Force with an unsolicited offer for a multi-year purchase of 120 additional new C-130Js that would enable the company to extend its production line well beyond its planned 2010 shut down, reports Roxana Tiron of The Hill. In an interview with the Congressional newspaper, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley called the package a “pretty attractive opportunity.” The Air Force is considering whether it can replace older Hercules with the newer J model. The Marine Corps would like to acquire some J models to replace older C-130 tankers. Moseley said it’s worth considering, “especially if you get the cost down to $47 to $48 million” per aircraft. Each one under the current acquisition agreement costs around $60 million.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
