A 10th factory fresh C-130J Super Hercules joined the 317th Airlift Group at Dyess AFB, Tex., after a ferry flight from Lockheed Martin’s Marietta, Ga., production facility last week. The stretched C-130J-30 is one of 28 Super Hercs slated for delivery to Dyess by 2013 to replace the aging C-130H models. Speaking after the delivery flight, Brig. Gen. Jon Fago, Nebraska Air National Guard Chief of Staff, presented Dyess’ 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron with the symbolic “key” to the aircraft in a flight-line ceremony, Oct. 28, according to a base release. Dyess first began flying C-130s in 1961, and is gradually phasing out its C-130H legacy fleet as the new J models arrive. The aircraft is the 100th C-130J delivered to the Air Force, according to a Lockheed release.
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.