Members of the 17th Special Operations Squadron at Kadena AB, Japan, bid farewell to the first of the unit’s legacy MC-130P aircraft as the squadron begins its transition to the new MC-130J model. This MC-130P, aircraft number 69-5825, flew to Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., on July 17 to enter retirement in the Air Force’s aircraft boneyard, according to Kadena’s Aug. 1 release. The airframe had served for 44 years, amassing nearly 19,000 flying hours, states the release. “After having executed a wide variety of missions in the aircraft over the last 13 years, I have mixed emotions seeing her headed to retirement,” said Lt. Col. Daniel Kobs of the 17th SOS. He said the eventual arrival of Kadena’s MC-130Js would “usher in a new era” of special operations forces airmen and capabilities. Lockheed Martin delivered the Air Force’s first MC-130J in September 2011 to Cannon AFB, N.M. (Kadena report by TSgt. Kristine Dreyer) (See also Newest HC-130J, MC-130J Deliveries.)
Since President Donald Trump first unveiled his “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative in late January, much of the focus for it has been focused on space—how the Pentagon may deploy dozens, if not hundreds, of sensors and interceptors into orbit to protect the continental U.S. from missile barrages. But the Air…