Lockheed Martin announced Tuesday that it recently completed assembly of the 200th C-130J transport aircraft, representing a significant achievement for the airlifter program. “The C-130J proves itself on a daily basis while engaged in combat, peacekeeping, humanitarian, and disaster-relief operations,” said Ross Reynolds, Lockheed’s C-130 vice president. This 200th airframe was the second HC-130J rescue tanker being built for Air Combat Command. The Air Force is buying the HC-130Js to replace its current 40-year-old fleet of HC-130s. Lockheed rolled out the first HC-130J in April. The Air Force is also acquiring C-130J combat-delivery airframes and MC-130Js, which are optimized for special operations.
Air Force Eyes More Uses for AI—with Guardrails
May 7, 2025
The Air Force and other military services are deploying artificial intelligence tools in their IT networks and Security Operations Centers where personnel monitor cyber threats, officials said May 6—but they are leveraging the emerging technology cautiously even as some say it is ready to transform the very nature of warfare.