The 79th Rescue Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., welcomed the Air Force’s first combat-coded HC-130J Combat King II personnel recovery aircraft into the service’s inventory during a ceremony at the base. “This aircraft means enhanced survivability for our HH-60s and our Guardian Angels,” said Col. Jason Hanover, 563rd Rescue Group commander, at the Nov. 15 induction ceremony. “It is a C-130 variant, but the differences make it an entirely different aircraft,” he added. Tail number 5707 is the third of four Lockheed Martin-built HC-130Js supplied to the Air Force thus far, according to the company. The three other Combat King IIs are intended for training at Davis-Monthan and Kirtland AFB, N.M. Overall, the Air Force plans to procure 37 HC-130Js to replace its legacy HC-130N/Ps. Fifteen of the C-130Js are already on order. The first HC-130J off of Lockheed Martin’s production line in Marietta, Ga., arrived at Davis-Monthan in September 2011. (Davis-Monthan report by SrA. Michael Washburn)
Competitors Not Picked for CCA Look Forward to Increment 2
April 25, 2024
While none of the major aircraft contractors were selected to develop the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, all three say they are seeking further autonomous aircraft work for the Navy, foreign partners, or in the classified arena, and maybe future versions of the CCA itself.