USAF Reserve Takes Delivery of First Lockheed HC-130J
The US Air Force Reserve recieved their first HC-130J Combat King II on April 2.
"The 39th Rescue Squadron took possession of their first, brand new HC-130J Combat King II aircraft on April 2. 920th Rescue Wing maintenance and aircrew brought the aircraft home to Patrick Air Force Base, Florida," USAF announced Thursday.
This HC-130J will be operated by the 39th Rescue Squadron (RQS), which is part of the 920th RQW.
The HC-130J is the sole dedicated fixed-wing personnel recovery platform operated by the Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard.
The 920th RQW and 39th RQS also have the distinction of being the Air Force Reserve’s only HC-130J operators and will eventually have an HC-130J fleet to support mission requirements.
Often tasked for airdrop, airland, and helicopter air-to-air refueling and forward-area ground refueling missions, the HC-130’s mission capabilities also include humanitarian aid operations, disaster response, security cooperation/aviation advisory, emergency aeromedical evacuation and noncombatant evacuation operations.
“From supporting humanitarian relief efforts on the Florida coast to making combat rescues in Southeast Asia, the 920th’s HC-130s have exemplified the reputation of being tried and true workhorses for 60 years,” said Rod McLean, vice president and general manager, Air Mobility & Maritime Missions at Lockheed Martin.
Compared to legacy platforms, the HC-130J Combat King II offers significant performance and capabilities advancements, to include fuel efficiencies, improvement in payload/range capabilities, an integrated defensive suite, automated maintenance fault reporting, high-altitude ramp and door hydraulics, and unmatched situational awareness with its digital avionics and dual Head Up Displays, the company said in a statement.
The HC-130J is one of nine production variants of the C-130J Super Hercules, the current production model of the C-130 Hercules aircraft.
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