C-130 MC Rate in “High 90s,” Even in Uzbekistan: 
Active duty and ANG maintainers working together on C-130 airlifters are on top of things at Karshi-Khanabad AB, Uzbekistan—keeping their aircraft’s mission capable rate in the high 90s. Maintenance issues forced the cancellation of only one mission in the past month—an accomplishment Ohio ANG maintenance superintendent MSgt. Mike Stichler calls “outstanding.” The C-130 mechanics have kept the high MC rate despite having to replace 14 engines and change out an additional 14 propellers so far this year.
The Space Force wants to launch hundreds of satellites in the coming years—and use contractor spacecraft to sweep them out of orbit later. The service’s Space Development Agency and the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit announced a trio of preliminary contracts for their Deorbit-as-a-Service project on Aug. 14, to Firefly Aerospace,…