Four Hercules aircraft left Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y., on May 9 for a deployment to US Central Command, marking the first time since Desert Storm and the last time ever a four-ship of C-130s will fly away from the station for deployment. The 914th Airlift Wing is transitioning to the KC-135 Stratotanker refueling mission soon, according to a Niagara Falls press release. “It’s going to be a little difficult for me to say goodbye,” CMSgt. Mike Zimmerman, the 328th Aerial Port Squadron loadmaster superintendent said, calling it “the best aircraft” ever built. The deployed airmen will be part of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and are slated to return to New York in the fall.
House lawmakers unveiled a new reconciliation package July 15 with $60 billion for defense, $290 billion less than the Pentagon has been seeking, a day after a Senate vote to advance the annual defense policy bill failed—developments that show the perilous state of the Pentagon’s ambitious plans for fiscal 2027.