Five C-130 Hercules aircraft from the 911th Airlift Wing at Pittsburgh International Airport ARS, Pa., recently received upgraded Real Time in Cockpit tracking systems to allow for greater situational awareness and better response to potential threats. RTIC gives operators a better view of aircraft in their area, including potential live threats, and allows for better communication with other assets engaged with the mission. Preparing the C-130s and installing the new systems takes about three days, according to a press release, and the work was performed over the month of February. Airmen from the 910th Airlift Wing in Youngstown, Ohio, traveled to Pittsburgh to help out with the transition. “RTIC, and technologies like it, give us the ability to fly, fight, and win, and return safely home to repeat as necessary,” said Maj. Andrew Thompson, 758th Airlift Squadron tactics officer. “RTIC gives the aircrew an enormous increase in situational awareness and ultimately can be the difference between success and failure, life or death, during combat missions.”
The Pentagon announced new long-term agreements with four defense companies May 13 to develop and produce large numbers of low-cost cruise missiles. And while the effort will focus mostly on the Army to start, it pairs with Air Force efforts to find more affordable munitions.