The Ohio Air National Guard’s 179th Airlift Wing did not receive its eighth and final C-130H on Aug. 4, as stated in Tuesday’s Daily Report. The unit’s announcement that eight C-130Hs “filled out the fleet again” at Mansfield ANGB, Ohio, referred to the fact that seven of the eight aircraft were recently repainted with the unit’s distinctive tail flash, unit spokesman TSgt. Joseph Harwood told Air Force Magazine. He also clarified that the announcement that the unit’s C-130s are now “mission capable” does not constitute an initial operational capability, which is instead expected sometime next spring. We have corrected the original entry.
The F-35 Joint Program Office has officially announced plans to issue multiple sole-source contracts to Pratt & Whitney to upgrade the fighter’s F135 engine—a widely expected move after Pentagon officials indicated they would do so earlier this year instead of developing an entirely new engine.