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Royal Air Force of Oman accepted its first C-130J Super Hercules transport from Lockheed Martin in a ceremony at the company’s Marietta, Ga., production facility, announced the company on Sept. 5. Defense Department and Lockheed Martin officials presented the aircraft to Omani Commander Suleiman al Brashdy during the Aug. 30 event. This airframe is the first of three on order for Oman. The first Super Hercules destined for Iraq also recently flew on its maiden check flight from Marietta, according to a separate Lockheed Martin release. The company is building six C-130Js for Iraq, the first of which is slated for delivery later this year. Oman’s first Super Herk will be ferried for delivery later this year as well, according to the company.
Members of Congress from both parties expressed frustration and dismay over the abrupt and still-unexplained firing last month of Air Force Gen. Timothy Haugh from his dual role as head of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency.