Air Force Reserve Command’s 403rd Wing at Keesler AFB, Miss., now has all eight of its new C-130J-30 airlifters, with the arrival last week of the final stretch version. The wing also has 10 WC-130Js, specially modified Hercules to conduct weather operations. The 403rd began converting to the newest Herk in October 1999.
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.