C-130 Hercules news

Navy accepts first C-130J-30 for next-generation TACAMO fleet

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:00:00 EST

October 15, 2026 (by Katherine Coughlan) - The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of a newly manufactured C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft from Lockheed Martin during a formal ceremony October 15 at the company’s production facility in Marietta, Georgia, marking the first step toward fielding the future E-130J “Phoenix II.”

The USN officially accepted delivery of the first C-130J-30 from Lockheed Martin during a ceremony in Marietta, Georgia, October 15, 2026. The airframe will undergo mission-system modification and flight testing to become the E-130J "Phoenix II". [Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin by Damien A. Guarnieri]

The aircraft will serve as the host platform for the Navy’s next-generation Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) mission system, which provides survivable, reliable, and secure, communications between the president, the secretary of defence, and U.S. Strategic Command.

The arrival of the new airframe initiates a planned transition from the legacy E-6B Mercury, honouring decades of service while setting the foundation for the future fight. The program designation “Phoenix II” symbolises rebirth, nodding to the Navy’s historic use of the EC-130Q platform to execute the TACAMO mission throughout the Cold War.

Modernising this capability is vital to ensure the nation's Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) architecture remain resilient and reliable. The updated platform delivers enhanced endurance, capacity, and operational reach necessary to support mission success in complex global environments.

The event spotlighted the close partnership between the Navy and the defence industrial base, beginning with Lockheed Martin’s delivery of the C-130J-30 airframe. The newly delivered aircraft is the extended C-130J-30 variant, part of an initial procurement of three aircraft acquired by the Navy in September 2024.

During the ceremony, Lockheed Martin formally transferred the aircraft to the U.S. Navy, where company representatives presented a commemorative plaque and ceremonial key to Capt. Roger Davis, Airborne Strategic Command, Control, and Communications program manager (PMA-271).

“Today's delivery from the historic Marietta line represents far more than a new airframe; it marks the foundation of our future strategic deterrence posture,” said Davis. “Through our close partnership with Lockheed Martin and our industry team, we are ensuring our nation maintains an unshakeable communications lifeline to our ballistic missile submarine fleet.”

Following the delivery from Marietta, the aircraft will transition into mission systems integration led by prime contractor Northrop Grumman and Collins Aerospace will provide Very Low Frequency (VLF) systems.

The ceremony also recognised the Sailors of Strategic Communications Wing (SCW) 1, based at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, who will ultimately operate and maintain the modernised TACAMO fleet. Ahead of the ceremony, select sailors participated in a fleet engagement day at the Marietta facility that included simulator flights, production line tours, and program briefings.

“Strategic deterrence is only as credible as our ability to communicate, and that mission rests in the hands of SCW-1’s world-class Sailors,” said Capt. David Gardner, the commodore of SCW-1. “The E-130J will provide our Sailors unmatched capability and next generation survivable and reliable communications, ensuring our team continues to be the unbreakable link between the President and strategic nuclear forces.”

Looking to the future fight, the E-130J will deliver resilient communications across contested, multi-domain battlespaces, ensuring national leadership remains connected to strategic forces during any crisis or conflict. Following post-delivery processing, the aircraft will enter the next phase of mission-system modification, ground testing, and developmental flight testing before operational fielding.

SCW-1 is operating 24/7 to provide survivable and endurable communications between U.S. nuclear forces and the National Command Authority via the Navy’s E-6B Mercury aircraft by receiving, verifying and retransmitting emergency action messages. In addition to the Navy’s Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) mission, SCW-1 is currently the operating platform for USSTRATCOM’s airborne command post known as “Looking Glass.”

Aligned under Portfolio Acquisition Executive Aviation at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, the mission of PMA-271 is to deliver and support survivable, reliable and endurable airborne command, control and communications for the president, secretary of defence and U.S. Strategic Command.

Courtesy of United States Navy

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Capt. Roger Davis, left, Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications program manager (PMA-271), presents a ceremonial key to Capt. David Gardner, commodore of Strategic Communications Wing 1 (SCW 1), during the C-130J-30 delivery ceremony October 15, 2026 in Marietta, Georgia. The symbolic handover marks the transition of the new airframe into the next phase of mission-system modification, ground testing and developmental flight testing, laying the foundation to field the future E-130J “Phoenix II.” [Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin by Thinh D. Nguyen]

U.S. and Romania mark 30 Years of Strategic Partnership with C-130 aircraft delivery

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 EST

October 14, 2026 (by Asif Shamim) - The United States and Romania held an official ceremony at the 90th Air Base in Otopeni to deliver a C-130 Hercules tactical airlift aircraft and transfer title to the Romanian Air Force. The handover represents a major milestone in bilateral defence cooperation and highlights three decades of the U.S.-Romania Strategic Partnership.

U.S. Ambassador Darryl Nirenberg joined representatives from Forţele Aeriene Române and Ministerul Apararii Nationale for the official handing over ceremony of a new C-130 Hercules #92-3024 at 90th ATB in Otopeni on October 14, 2026. The C-130 was transferred through the American Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program. [Photos via U.S. Embassy Bucharest]

Transferred through the U.S. Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program, the C-130 Hercules (tail number #92-3024) significantly expands Romania’s tactical airlift capability as well as its ability to transport personnel and equipment, respond to crises, support NATO operations, provide humanitarian aid, and help in the defense of Allied territory.

“Nearly thirty years ago the United States and Romania established our Strategic Partnership,” said U.S. Ambassador Darryl Nirenberg during the ceremony. “Since then, it has evolved from a written commitment into a relationship defined by shared missions, sacrifices, and a determination to defend our common security. Today, we mark this partnership not only with words, but with capability.”

“This aircraft represents readiness, interoperability, and Romania’s growing capacity to contribute to our common defence,” Ambassador Nirenberg added. “Above all, it reflects the enduring commitment of two nations—and one Alliance—to peace through strength.”

The C-130 Hercules enhances Romania’s readiness, mobility, and interoperability along NATO’s eastern flank and across the Black Sea region.

The successful transfer reflects close coordination between the Romanian Ministry of National Defence, the Romanian Air Force, the U.S. Military Group, the U.S. Air Force C-130 program team, and Lockheed Martin. Beyond the delivery itself, both nations continue to emphasise joint training, routine maintenance collaboration, and operational readiness to ensure maximum integration.

“Lockheed Martin is proud of our long-standing partnership with Romania, and this C 130 Hercules delivery exemplifies our shared commitment to enduring reliability and capability,” said Ken Gjone, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. “The integration of this C‑130H into the Romanian Air Force provides Romania with enhanced tactical airlift capability and unmatched versatility, directly strengthening its readiness, interoperability with NATO and regional stability across the Eastern Flank and Black Sea region.”

The United States remains committed to deepening military cooperation, supporting Romanian defence modernisation, and ensuring NATO remains ready, credible, and capable of defending all Allied territory.

Courtesy of U.S. Embassy Romania

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Illinois ANG divests final C-130H Hercules

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 EST

October 13, 2026 (by MSgt. Lealan Buehrer) - The Illinois Air National Guard’s 182nd Airlift Wing divested its last C-130H Hercules aircraft from Peoria, Illinois, at 12:36pm, October 5, 2026, closing out the wing’s 22-year C-130H mission as the unit converts to the C-130J Super Hercules.

USAF C-130H Hercules #94-6702, assigned to the 169th AS, starts engines prior to departure in Peoria, Illinois on October 5, 2026. The aircraft was the wing’s last aircraft to depart for divestment, marking the end of the wing's 22-year C-130H mission [ANG photo by MSgt. Lealan Buehrer]

Tail code #46702 departed Peoria on a clear, sunny day for Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, Arkansas, flown by an aircrew from that installation. The Arkansas base serves as the Department of Defence’s primary training hub for C-130 Hercules tactical airlift.

The departure marks the formal end of the wing’s C-130H operations, setting the stage for its transition to the newer C-130J model.

“Watching our final H-model leave is a milestone for our wing and our community,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Rusty Ballard, commander of the 182nd Airlift Wing, Illinois Air National Guard. “Our Airmen maintained and flew these aircraft with distinction for more than two decades, and that dedication will carry us forward into the C-130J era.”

In military aviation, divestment and a mission conversion occur when an organisation retires a legacy aircraft type to transition to a newer platform. Prior to that process, a crew chief serves as the lead maintenance Airman responsible for maintaining and readying an assigned aircraft for flight everyday.

Master Sgt. Dishon Rambo was the 182nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief assigned to C-130H tail code #46702.

Rambo marshalled the aircraft off the flight line and saluted as it began taxiing toward the runway. The last C-130H took off and climbed into the sky, completing one last flyover over the installation’s main hangar on its way out.

“It was hard saying goodbye to the last C-130H we had here in Peoria,” Rambo said. “Tail 6702 was the first C-130H I had the opportunity to work on.”

He said the aircraft became even more important to him after he became the Direct Crew Chief on aircraft 6702. Rambo said he poured countless hours and sweat into keeping the aircraft flying and made many memories along the way.

“I am proud of everything we accomplished together, from the long days on the flight line to the trips, missions and deployments along the way,” Rambo said. “Here’s to all the memories. You’ll be missed.”

The departure closed an operational chapter for the unit spanning more than two decades.

The wing received the C-130H Hercules in 2004, replacing the C-130E Hercules. Over the following 22 years, Peoria aircrews and support personnel deployed with the aircraft for overseas combat tasking including Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Inherent Resolve, alongside domestic responses for hurricane relief and Illinois flood support.

The 182nd Airlift Wing has called Peoria home since 1946, when the unit began operations with a shale runway and a single hangar. As the wing prepares for the delivery of the C-130J Super Hercules in approximately July 2027, personnel will focus on conversion training, continuing a tradition of service known across the unit as The Peoria Way.

Courtesy of 182nd Airlift Wing

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MSgt. Dishon Rambo, the crew chief assigned to C-130H #94-6702 with the 169th AS, Illinois ANG, poses for a photograph in front of the aircraft in Peoria, Illinois, October 5, 2026. The aircraft was the wing’s last aircraft to depart for divestment, marking the end of the wing's 22-year C-130H mission [ANG photo by MSgt. Lealan Buehrer]

Nevada Air Guardsmen return from historic deployment supporting Operation Epic Fury

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 EST

October 4, 2026 (by Capt. Emerson Marcus) - Six months after a one-week notice federal call-up, Nevada Air National Guardsmen and four C-130 aircraft returned home Sunday from deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Epic Fury.

USAF C-130H #93-7313 from 192 AS Nevada ANG, taxis into the Nevada ANGB in Reno, on October 4, 2026. Nevada Air National Guardsmen and four C-130 aircraft returned home following a six-month deployment in support of Operation Epic Fury [US National Guard photo by SSgt. Adrianne Lopez]

Sunday concluded the largest short-notice deployment of the Nevada Air National Guard since the Persian Gulf War in 1991. It is the third largest such deployment in the organisation’s history. The other occurred during the Pueblo Crisis in 1968 when 600 Nevada Air Guardsmen in Reno were called on one-week notice in response to North Korea's seizing of a U.S. naval vessel. Aircrew, maintenance and support personnel for four aircraft participated in this summer's deployment (exceeding 200 total Airmen for the mobilisation of troops).

The 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard — with its C-130 H3 tactical airlift mission — was listed as a "contingency response available" unit this spring before Operation Epic Fury began.

“It’s a six-month available window to be ready for any overseas contingency,” said Lt. Col. David McNally, 192nd Airlift Squadron commander and pilot who deployed this summer. "The High Rollers were on the list to go and answered the call. We are always ready when our nation calls and this deployment showed that."

The 152nd High Rollers provided tactical airlift for theatre movement during Epic Fury, including munitions and personnel.

“I don’t think our unit has faced a bigger threat,” McNally said. “They were in weapon engagement zones. They did a hell of a job and operated for six months through war. They did it without any losses and were one hundred percent mission effective the entire time. Any tasking we were called to do — we filled. It all comes back to our training here in Nevada. That played a significant part in our success."

Additional specifics on theatre operations will not be released by the Nevada National Guard given operational security for members of the military currently deployed in CENTCOM.

Master Sgt. Aubrie Chiatovich, maintainer, said she's looking forward to felling more home.

“Can't really go into detail about it (the deployment), but I'm so happy to be home and really happy to have ranch again," she said. "They did not have ranch when we were deployed, so I want ranch and Dutch Bros."

The 152nd Airlift Wing has operated at the Nevada Air National Guard Base at the south runway of the Reno-Tahoe International Airport since 1954. Before that, its aviators worked out of the Stead Air Force Base north of Reno (1948-1954). It has operated C-130 Hercules since 1996.

Courtesy of Nevada Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs

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USAF C-130H C-130H #93-7313 from 192 AS, Nevada ANG, flies above the Reno-Tahoe International Airport in Reno, on October 4, 2026. Nevada Air National Guardsmen and four C-130 aircraft returned home following a six-month deployment in support of Operation Epic Fury after mobilising on one week’s notice. [Army National Guard photo by SSgt. Adrianne Lopez]

Montana ANG ends C-130H era with final tactical flight

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 EST

October 4, 2026 (by SMSgt. Devin Doskey) - The Montana Air National Guard’s 120th Airlift Wing conducted its final tactical training flight with the C-130H Hercules, October. 3, ending a 12-year chapter in the wing’s history.

Airmen assigned to the Montana ANG’s 120th AW conduct the wing’s final tactical training flight with the C-130H Hercules over Montana, Oct. 3, 2026. Two C-130Hs flew a two-ship tactical formation before returning to Great Falls ANGB, where the aircraft were welcomed with a traditional water salute. The wing is now transitioning to the C-130J Super Hercules, with its first new aircraft expected to arrive in 2027. [USAF Photo by SSgt. Leon Redfern]

Two C-130Hs flew a two-ship tactical formation over Montana before returning to Great Falls, where firefighters welcomed the aircraft with a traditional water salute.

The 120th began transitioning from fighter aircraft to tactical airlift in 2013. Since then, Montana airmen have flown C-130H missions around the world, including four major combat deployments.

The wing also operated throughout the Pacific and Europe, with its airmen travelling to more than 50 countries and serving on all seven continents.

Col. Jason Green, commander of the 120th Airlift Wing, served as an aircraft commander on the final tactical flight. “This final flight marks the close of an important chapter in our wing’s history,” Green said. “The C-130H has been central to our mission for more than a decade, and its legacy is defined by the Airmen and the missions that made these aircraft such an important part of the 120th.”

Lt. Col. Casey Lalonde, commander of the 120th Operations Support Squadron and a C-130 pilot, has been part of the wing’s C-130 mission since its beginning.

“When I left for pilot training in 2013, we had F-15s on the ramp,” Lalonde said. “About a year and a half later when I got back, we had C-130s on the ramp. I was the first (pilot) to go all the way through C-130 pilot training.” Lalonde said the final tactical mission was a significant moment for the wing.

“It’s a little bittersweet, but it’s been an extraordinary mission for us,” Lalonde said. “Wing-wide, everybody plays a big part in it. We’ve been doing it for 12 years now, and we’ve had a lot of success with it.”

The C-130H gave the wing the ability to transport personnel, equipment and cargo, performing tactical airlift and air drops in contingency operations across the state of Montana and abroad.

Montana airmen flew and maintained C-130Hs during sustained combat operations in Southwest Asia. The aircraft also supported missions across multiple geographic combatant commands during their service with the 120th.

The two-ship formation used during the final flight was a routine part of the wing’s tactical airlift training.

“We train to a two-ship formation pretty frequently,” Lalonde said. “It’s kind of the bread and butter of our tactical operations.”

Although the final flight marked the end of tactical training for the wing’s C-130Hs, the remaining aircraft have yet to leave Montana.

The 120th originally operated eight C-130Hs. Three remained at Great Falls following the final tactical flight and are scheduled to leave the wing by the end of October.

Several of the former Montana aircraft will continue to serve in other roles.

One aircraft, tail number 7325, was transferred to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, where it will be used as a static training aircraft for Air Force basic military training.

“Everybody that goes through basic training at Lackland Air Force Base now will actually be training on a Montana C-130, which is kind of cool,” Lalonde said.

Other former Montana C-130Hs have been transferred to partner nations or will be used as training aircraft at other locations.

The end of the C-130H era does not mean the end of tactical airlift in Montana. The 120th is transitioning to the C-130J Super Hercules, with the first new aircraft expected to arrive next year.

Although the C-130J retains the familiar Hercules design, Lalonde said it offers significant improvements in several of the aircraft’s capabilities.

“It really is fundamentally a different aircraft in a lot of different ways,” Lalonde said. “We’ve got all new communications, situational awareness, all the SATCOM-type capabilities and significant improvements in performance.”

The C-130J will also provide greater cargo capacity and improved efficiency while flying faster, farther and higher than the C-130H.

For Green, the transition represents the next phase of the wing’s tactical airlift mission.

\“We’re not saying goodbye to tactical airlift in Montana,” Green said. “We’re transitioning to the next generation of Hercules and preparing our Airmen to carry everything we’ve learned from the H-model into the future.”

The C-130H was the latest in a long line of aircraft flown by Montana airmen, including P-51 Mustangs, F-86 Sabres, F-106’s and F-107’s, and F-16s and F-15s.

As the wing transitions to the C-130J, Green said the experience gained during 12 years of operating the C-130H will continue to shape the 120th Airlift Wing’s mission.

“As the C-130H closes its chapter with the 120th Airlift Wing, we honour the Airmen and the missions that defined the last 12 years,” Green said. “The C-130J will carry that legacy forward.”

Courtesy of 120th Airlift Wing

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Col. Jason Green, commander of the 120th AW, serves as an aircraft commander during the Montana ANG’s final tactical training flight with the C-130H Hercules over Montana, October 3, 2026. [USAF Photo by MSgt. Joe Davis]

Coast Guard orders six additional C-130J surveillance aircraft

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 EST

October 2, 2026 (by USCG) - On September 24, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard leveraged existing U.S. Air Force contracts to order six baseline C-130J long-range surveillance aircraft from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Marietta, Georgia.

This acquisition expands the Coast Guard’s C-130J program to 25 total aircraft. The Coast Guard expects to receive the first C-130J from Lockheed Martin in fiscal year (FY) 2028, with all six arriving by the end of FY 2030. Following delivery, the Coast Guard will award separate contracts to configure the aircraft to meet the Coast Guard’s mission requirements that designate the aircraft as HC-130Js.

These acquisitions continue the ongoing modernisation of the Coast Guard’s aviation fleet. Compared with the legacy C-130H model, the new C-130J aircraft features a more advanced engine and propellers, yielding a 20% increase in speed and altitude, as well as a 40% increase in range.

HC-130J aircraft operate in core Coast Guard missions including counter drug operations, alien interdictions, and search-and-rescue recoveries. The fleet is vital to the Coast Guard’s efforts to save lives, secure, control, and defend the U.S. border and maritime approaches, facilitate commerce vital to economic prosperity, and respond to crises and contingencies.

“The HC-130J is the largest and most capable airlift asset for the Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security,” said Michael Haycock, director of systems integration (CG-SI). “Expanding our fleet supports the most critical Coast Guard missions and those of our DHS partners.”

This procurement also supports the Coast Guard’s plans to expand its HC-130J operations to additional air stations, including Air Station Sacramento, California, which received its first HC-130J in July 2026. The Coast Guard currently operates the HC-130J out of three air stations: Elizabeth City, North Carolina; Kodiak, Alaska; and Barbers Point, Hawaii.

The Coast Guard funded this acquisition using up to $735 million of the $1.412 billion provided by the fiscal year 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act for fixed-wing aircraft. The FY 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act is part of a comprehensive strategy to invest in Coast Guard facilities and infrastructure, supporting execution of missions across the country. To date, the Coast Guard has awarded approximately $19 billion across reconciliation projects throughout the United States.

Courtesy of United States Coast Guard

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USCG HC-130J #2011 is seen on a test flight from Lockheed Martins Marietta facility on October 26, 2017. [Photo by Agustin Anaya]

Exercise with UK, Canadian forces sharpens Kentucky Air Guard capabilities

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 EST

September 30, 2026 (by Dale Greer) - Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard significantly enhanced their global capability here last month, working with NATO partners from the United Kingdom and Canada to execute dozens of multinational training events.

USAF C-130J-30s assigned to the 165th AS fly a low-level sortie as part of a five-ship formation along the coast of Scotland on August 19, 2026. [ANG photo by Dale Greer]

The Kentucky Guardsmen deployed four C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, 62,000 pounds of equipment and 60 personnel to Glasgow Prestwick Airport between Aug. 14 and 22, according to Lt. Col. Nick Reinke, mission commander and a C-130 pilot and assigned to the 165th Airlift Squadron.

While here, they conducted specialised fuelling operations, low-level formation flying and rapid-reaction aircraft launches to maintain combat mission certifications, he said. The Airmen also completed maritime equipment and personnel airdrops, including two open-ocean rescue scenarios with a helicopter unit from the British Royal Navy.

“The deployment was designed to accomplish a large amount of C-130J continuation and tactical training while taking advantage of an unfamiliar overseas operating environment and opportunities to work directly with Allied partners,” Reinke said.

“While we can accomplish many of these individual training events in the United States, it is much harder to reproduce an unfamiliar environment. At home station, crews know the airspace, air traffic control procedures, airfields, support agencies and local practices. In Scotland, even something as routine as a proficiency circuit required crews to understand and coordinate with a different ATC system. Specialised fuelling required coordination with host nation agencies, formation flying required United Kingdom low-level flying approval and integration with another nation’s C-130J, and the water rescue missions required coordination with us, a British helicopter unit and 16 Airmen from the Kentucky Air Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron.

“That forces crews to solve the kinds of interoperability, communication, planning and adaptation problems they encounter when operating globally. Worldwide capability is more than simply being able to fly across the Atlantic. It means arriving with the people and equipment needed to operate, understanding an unfamiliar airspace and support structure, integrating with Allied forces, adapting when weather or circumstances change the plan, and continuing to accomplish the mission.”

Reinke said the deployment also underscored the importance of relationships.

The Kentucky unit, based in Louisville, worked closely with civilian support agencies at Prestwick to complete specialised fuelling operations, during which a C-130J was refuelled while its engines were still running. This so-called “hot pit” method “validated Prestwick’s ability to support the technique and provided practical experience to host-nation fuel personnel,” Reinke said.

“That partnership leaves behind a more capable location for follow-on and Allied forces in the future, rather than the benefit ending when our deployment ended,” he noted.

One of the deployment’s key accomplishments was a five-ship formation flight, conducted with four Kentucky aircraft and one C-130J from the Royal Canadian Air Force.

“One of the interesting aspects was that the Canadian aircraft commander was actually a U.S. Marine Corps exchange pilot,” Reinke said. “That meant our mission planning and briefing had to reconcile U.S. Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps procedures and terminology to make sure everyone had the same understanding before execution. That is exactly the kind of interoperability that is difficult to simulate.”

The deployment’s other main focus was open-ocean rescue.

The scenario required a C-130 crew to locate a stranded Airman floating in a life raft on the Atlantic Ocean, miles from shore. Loadmasters then airdropped an inflatable motorboat near the victim, and three Special Tactics Airmen used precision jumpmaster techniques to parachute into the ocean, deploy the boat and provide first aid. Once complete, they began coordination with the Royal Navy’s 814 Naval Air Squadron to execute helicopter hoist operations and extract the victim as the C-130 provided overwatch.

“The integration with the Royal Navy was one of the highlights of the exercise,” Reinke said. “It allowed our pararescue personnel and C-130J crews to integrate fixed-wing airdrop, maritime rescue, rotary-wing insertion and recovery, and on-scene command and control with a NATO partner.”

A pararescue flight chief for the Special Tactics team described the operating environment in Scotland as “vastly different” from the locations they normally use for training in the United States.

“It’s a lot colder here, and the salt water is an unusual factor for us,” he said. “The Royal Navy also uses different geolocation methods, and they have different tactics and techniques than we typically employ.”

He noted that the Royal Navy’s helicopter, a Merlin Mk2, generates substantially more rotor wash than the UH-60 Black Hawks that the Kentuckians are used to.

“Those are the kinds of things you don’t anticipate, but we were able to work through them and figure out what worked best for their guys and for us,” the Airman said. “We had to be flexible on the spot to get the mission done.”

Royal Navy Capt. James Hall said the exercise provided valuable opportunities for the Merlin Mk2 force to enhance capabilities outside its normal role in anti-submarine warfare.

“Exercises such as this, conducted alongside our United States Air Force partners, enable our crews to maintain and enhance critical search and rescue skills while strengthening the interoperability that underpins NATO’s collective security,” he said.

Lt. S. Cass, a flight commander for 814 Naval Air Squadron, agreed, adding that “we hope to continue working with our friends across the pond in the years to come.”

Reinke called the deployment an unqualified success, “not necessarily for any single event, but for how much readiness training we were able to layer into one exercise.”

“We were able to use legitimate flight training requirements to generate maximum value, ensuring worldwide readiness while working with our international partners. We also were able to build strong human relationships with the men and women of our partner nations, laying the kind of foundation that makes coalition operations successful.”

Courtesy of 123rd Airlift Wing

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USAF C-130J-30 #16-5859 from the 165 AS, loiters over the site of a simulated search-and-rescue mission in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Scotland on August 17, 2026. The scenario is being conducted with key assistance from the British Royal Navy’s 814 NAS. [ANG photo by Phil Speck]

USAF C-130Js from 165th AS and the RCAF taxi at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, Scotland, after completing a five-ship formation flight along the coast of Scotland on August 19, 2026. [ANG photo by Dale Greer]

From Loadmaster to Pilot: One Airman’s Final Flight with C-130 #93-2041

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 EST

September 28, 2026 (by TSgt. Albert Valladares) - For Lt. Col. Bradley Emmett, a C-130 Hercules parked on the Nevada Air National Guard flight line represents far more than another aircraft in the inventory.

Lt. Col. Bradly Emmett, a C-130 Hercules pilot with the 152nd AW, poses beside C-130H #93-2041 at the Nevada ANGB in Reno, Nevada, September 24, 2026. Emmett served as a loadmaster aboard the same aircraft when it was struck by enemy fire during a 2010 airdrop mission over Afghanistan. [USAF photo by TSgt. Albert Valladares]

More than 16 years ago, Emmett stood in the back of the same aircraft over Afghanistan as a staff sergeant and loadmaster. During an airdrop mission, enemy fire struck the aircraft, sending a round through its fuselage and leaving damage that remains visible inside the aircraft today.

Now a C-130 pilot, Emmett is preparing to climb into its cockpit for one final flight as tail number #93-2041 leaves operational service and begins a new chapter as a maintenance training aircraft at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.

“It’ll be cool,” Emmett said. “It’s kind of some closure with that airplane.”

In 2010, Emmett was a loadmaster assigned to the Illinois Air National Guard’s 182nd Airlift Wing and 169th Airlift Squadron while deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

At the time, his crew was conducting a low-cost, low-altitude, or LCLA, airdrop mission to resupply troops operating in western Afghanistan.

The tactic allowed C-130 crews to deliver relatively small bundles at low altitude. According to Emmett, crews would remain at higher altitude for as long as possible before descending rapidly toward the drop zone, minimising the amount of time the aircraft was exposed to small-arms fire.

As the C-130 approached the drop zone, Emmett stood near the cargo bundle preparing for the release.

The copilot spotted two individuals on a motorcycle moving near the aircraft’s flight path. Shortly afterward, Emmett heard a rapid series of noises inside the aircraft.

“I’m standing back by the LCLA, getting ready to cut the gate,” he said. “Then all of a sudden you hear, ‘pop, pop, pop, pop, pop!!’ in the airplane.”

His immediate reaction was to duck behind the cargo bundle.

At first, the crew did not know exactly what had happened. The aircraft continued its mission, completed the airdrop and returned toward Bagram Airfield.

During the flight home, however, electrical problems began appearing. The copilot experienced instrument problems, and several interphone positions became stuck on hot microphone. Those abnormalities raised the crew’s suspicions that the aircraft might have been hit.

Confirmation came after landing. As the crew exited the aircraft, maintainers gathered around damage to the right side of the fuselage.

According to Emmett, the projectile entered the right side of the aircraft forward of an emergency escape hatch. It passed through the aircraft skin and structural components before striking emergency oxygen equipment, penetrating an aluminium bulkhead and passing through wiring before losing energy near the navigator’s position.

Some evidence of the damage remains aboard the aircraft today. The crew was later awarded Combat Action Medals for the engagement, Emmett said.

From the cargo compartment to the cockpit. Although he was serving as an enlisted loadmaster at the time, becoming a pilot had always been Emmett’s goal.

He continued working toward his education while deploying and serving as a loadmaster. After completing pilot training, he returned to the 169th Airlift Squadron as a C-130 pilot in 2014.

The transition moved him from the cargo compartment to the flight deck, but he said his years as an enlisted aircrew member continue to influence the way he operates today.

“It helps a lot,” Emmett said. “You’re used to having a crew. You know how the checklists work. You know how general operations work, and you know when something doesn’t sound right just from having experience.”

He estimates he accumulated approximately 1,500 flying hours as a loadmaster and more than 2,500 hours as a pilot.

That experience also shaped the way he views the Airmen working behind the cockpit. When necessary, Emmett said he still returns to the cargo compartment to help loadmasters configure seats or prepare the aircraft.

“That’s the cool part about being on the crew,” he said. “It’s just about getting the job done.”

For years after the Afghanistan mission, aircraft #93-2041 remained part of Emmett’s personal history.

The connection even extended beyond his military career. When he and his wife took engagement photographs, they chose the C-130 as part of the setting. A large photograph featuring the aircraft’s tail still hangs in their home.

Years later, circumstances brought the aircraft back into his life.

When Emmett learned his current unit, The 152nd Airlift Wing, would receive a C-130 from his former organisation, he hoped it would be #93-2041.

It was.

“It was just weird that it worked out that way,” he said. “That’s the one that ended up coming here.”

When the opportunity arose to retrieve the aircraft, Emmett volunteered.

Now, as the aircraft approaches the end of its operational flying career, he volunteered again — this time to help deliver it on its final flight.

“I want to be the last one to land it,” he said.

One final mission

The aircraft’s military service will not end when its engines shut down at Sheppard Air Force Base.

Instead, the C-130 will take on a new role training future aircraft maintainers. Students will use the aircraft to learn fundamental maintenance skills, removing and installing components and gaining hands-on experience before progressing to specialised aircraft training.

For an aircraft that once carried Airmen into combat and delivered supplies to troops on the ground, its final mission will be preparing another generation of Airmen to maintain the force.

For Emmett, the flight will close a circle that began when he was an enlisted loadmaster standing in the cargo compartment over Afghanistan.

Since then, he has progressed from staff sergeant to lieutenant colonel, from loadmaster to pilot and from surviving a combat mission aboard #93-2041 to preparing to occupy its pilot seat one final time.

More than a decade after their first memorable flight together, Airman and aircraft will make one last journey.

This time, Lt. Col. Bradley Emmett will be at the controls.

Courtesy of 152nd Airlift Wing

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Additional images:

Lt. Col. Bradly Emmett, a C-130 Hercules pilot with the Nevada ANG, points to a bullet hole patch inside C-130H #93-2041 from the 169th AS on September 24, 2026. Emmett was serving as a staff sergeant and loadmaster aboard the aircraft in 2010 when it was struck by enemy fire during an airdrop mission over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. [ANG photo by TSgt. Albert Valladares]

USAF C-130H #93-2041 sits parked on the flight line at Reno, Nevada, September 28, 2026, following its final operational flight. The aircraft, which served for more than three decades and sustained enemy fire during a 2010 mission over Afghanistan, will transition to Sheppard AFB. [USAF photo by TSgt. Albert Valladares]

USAF C-130H #93-2041, departs the Nevada ANGB in Reno, Nevada, September 28, 2026, on its final flight to Sheppard AFB. The aircraft will transition from operational service to a maintenance training role, where future Airmen will use it for hands-on instruction. [USAF photo by TSgt. Albert Valladares]

Kentucky Air Guard hosts 3rd-annual C-130 Rodeo

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 EST

September 23, 2026 (by Philip Speck) - Aircrews from multiple C-130 units across the Air National Guard and active-duty Air Force gathered here in August for the third-annual C-130 Air Reserve Component Fly-In and Rodeo.

C-130 aircrews prepare for the “rodeo” portion of the third annual C-130 Air Reserve Component Fly-In and Rodeo at the Kentucky ANGB in Louisville, August 6, 2026. [ANG photo by Phil Speck]

The event, staged at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base by the 165th Airlift Squadron, drew participants from the active-duty 41st Airlift Squadron, the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center, and Air Guard units in Montana, Delaware and Texas, said Col. Josh Ketterer, commander of the Kentucky Guard’s 123rd Operations Group. Crews from the Illinois Air National Guard also attended the event as observers.

A mix of C-130H Hercules and C-130J Super Hercules aircraft participated, with Montana and Delaware flying the legacy H-model and other participants operating J-models.

The rodeo was modeled on the Weapons and Tactics Conference, a fly-in designed to bring C-130 units together to complete training requirements that are difficult to accomplish at home station, Ketterer said.

“This event fulfills combat mission readiness requirements and maintains proficiency in challenging core competencies, including large formations and joint operations with airborne forces,” he said.

Participants received briefings from subject matter experts and reviewed current threats and tactics before executing joint mission planning.

The first event of the week was a mission to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where crews supported an airdrop for the 101st Airborne Division and 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Threat emitters were integrated into the scenario to replicate a realistic contested environment.

The week finished with a “rodeo,” a single-crew competition that tested proficiency across several skills, Ketterer said. Crews were scored on timed cargo upload and combat offload, time on target, airdrop accuracy, threat reaction, time of arrival at the landing zone, assault landing and single-point fuel offload.

The multi-event format was designed to touch every major component of the tactical airlift mission.

“Our rodeo brings together elements across the entire mission set that we can we can quantify, collect data on and compete against one another with,” said Capt. Samuel Williams, an instructor pilot with the 165th Airlift Squadron. “The rodeo itself is meant to be a morale-building event bringing crews together across the C-130 community.

“It would not possible without the agency support we receive from our maintenance teams, aerial port, aircrew flight equipment and airfield management,” he added.

“We all work very hard to train and be the best we can be when the time comes to serve our country. This type of event validates that training for our crews, and gives us the opportunity to put our skills to the test.”

“Training like this is very important for us,” noted Senior Airman Andrew Hudson, a loadmaster with the 165th Airlift Squadron. “Having a competition between other wings gives the low-consequence pressure of trying to be first, and it helps you self-identify how you and your crew work under pressure to achieve a specific goal.”

Ketterer said that kind of focus on team-building is essential for unit effectiveness and global engagement.

“Continually improving and ensuring our interoperability within the C-130 community is critical for both our federal and domestic missions, ” he said.

Courtesy of 123rd Airlift Wing

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Members of the Kentucky ANG’s 165th AS participate in the third-annual C-130 Air Reserve Component Fly-In and Rodeo at the Kentucky ANGB in Louisville, on August 6, 2026. [ANG photo by Phil Speck]

Mexico expands C-130J Super Hercules fleet with second aircraft

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 EST

September 23, 2026 (by Christopher Karns) - The Fuerza Aérea Mexicana (FAM) recently announced the acquisition of a second Lockheed Martin C‑130J‑30 Super Hercules tactical airlifter, solidifying Mexico's role as a regional leader in air mobility.

A rendering of Mexico's C-130J-30 Super Hercules. Mexico will be the first Latin American country to operate the C-130J. [Photo Lockheed Martin]

The addition of the second Super Hercules follows the first aircraft acquisition announced in January 2026, which made Mexico the first nation in Latin America to join the global Super Hercules fleet.

A long‑time Hercules operator, the FAM is recapitalising its legacy fleet with the C‑130J‑30 Super Hercules–a stretch variant that adds 15 feet of cargo space. The aircraft provides increased power, range, fuel efficiency and payload capacity, enabling the FAM to meet any tactical airlift requirement while leveraging decades of operational, maintenance and logistics experience with the Hercules.

The Super Hercules provides the FAM with what no other tactical airlifter can deliver: certified multi‑mission versatility, proven operational performance, a true global presence, known capabilities and trusted reliability – all backed by an enterprise‑wide support network that ensures sustained readiness for decades to come.

The expanded capability arrives at a critical moment. Shortly after the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela, the first C‑130J‑30 was employed to deliver emergency supplies, medical aid and personnel to the disaster area. The second aircraft will double that response capability, allowing Mexico to sustain rapid humanitarian assistance throughout Latin America and reinforce its strategic air‑lift role in support of regional security.

"The C‑130J is the backbone of global airlift, and Mexico's continued investment underscores confidence in a platform that delivers decades of operational readiness, unmatched versatility and seamless interoperability with U.S. and allied forces," said Trish Pagan, vice president of Lockheed Martin's Air Mobility & Maritime Missions. "We are proud to support Mexico as it sets a new benchmark for tactical airlift in Latin America."

For more than five decades the C‑130 Hercules has been a cornerstone of Mexico's response to natural disasters, military operations and other critical missions. The aircraft remains a powerful symbol of Mexico's commitment to regional security and cooperation, and the expanded fleet highlights the long‑standing partnership between Lockheed Martin and the FAM.

Mexico's expansion of the C‑130J fleet demonstrates a clear momentum for modern air mobility in Latin America. By investing in the most advanced Hercules ever built, the country not only enhances its own operational reach but also creates a platform for greater cooperation with U.S. and allied forces, ensuring a coordinated response to security and humanitarian challenges for years to come.

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