The 2,500th C-130 airframe produced on Lockheed Martin’s production line at Marietta, Ga., was delivered to the 71st Rescue Squadron at Moody AFB, Ga., last week, the company announced. “The Hercules is a global asset and versatile workhorse that is truly without equal. This delivery represents the C-130’s strength in numbers and its ongoing relevancy to operators around the world,” company C-130 Vice President and General Manager George Shultz said in a release. Since Lockheed delivered the first C-130A to the Air Force in 1956, a total of 68 international operators have logged more than 22 million flying hours, according to the company. Lockheed Martin’s current production of C-130J Super Hercules alone has accrued more than 1.3 million flight hours in service with 16 different countries. The HC-130J Combat King II rescue support aircraft, serial number 13-0782, was delivered to Moody on Dec. 11, stated a release.
The U.S. military is sending more fighter jets to the Middle East to step up its war with Iran, adding to what is already the largest buildup of airpower in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. For now, the operation shows little sign of coming to a quick…