Lockheed Martin delivered the first of two C-130J transports to Tunisia, marking the first delivery of this C-130 variant to an African country, announced the company. The delivery took place on April 4, according to the company’s release on that same day. Lockheed Martin received Tunisia’s order for the two C-130Js in early 2010. The company is scheduled to supply the second airframe by 2014, plus provide training and an initial three years of logistics support for the two airplanes. The Tunisians will use the C-130Js for traditional airlift, relief efforts around the world, and firefighting, states the release. They currently operate a fleet of C-130Hs and C-130Bs, first purchased in the mid-1980s.
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
