Tunisia will purchase two C-130J transports, becoming the first African nation to acquire the J-model aircraft, Lockheed Martin announced Tuesday. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2013 and 2014, the company said. Contract signing took place in February in Tunis. Tunisia already operates some C-130Hs and C-130Bs. It becomes the 12th nation to select the C-130J, joining Australia, Britain, Canada, Denmark, India, Iraq, Italy, Norway, Oman, Qatar, and the US. US Air Force C-130Js made their debut in Africa back in December supporting Air Forces Africa’s activities on that continent.
The Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile is behind schedule and may significantly overrun its expected cost, which could partially explain why the service is reviving the hypersonic AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid-Response Weapon.