Once Terminated, Now a Hit: 
The Air Force’s new C-130J model Hercules tactical airlifter escaped the Pentagon ax last year because it turned out to be more costly to cancel the program than finish the procurement. Now, it seems, the save was very prudent. “All of a sudden, they’re now starting to fall in love with the airplane,” remarked Air Force Secretary Wynne at a House hearing Wednesday. Wynne said that he expects “to get some pressure to actually increase the buy,” currently set at 79 aircraft. One reason, according to Chief of Staff Moseley, is the need to modify more C-130s for the special operations world. That could, said Moseley, “take us to more J models.”
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.