Lockheed Martin delivered the first HC-130J Combat King II combat search and rescue tanker to the California Air National Guard.
This HC-130J will be operated by the 129th Rescue Wing (RQW) at Moffett Air National Guard Base, California. The 129th RQW currently operates a fleet of MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft, which will be replaced by four new HC-130Js, and a fleet of HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters.
The HC-130J is the only dedicated fixed-wing personnel recovery platform in the Air Force and Air National Guard inventory. The aircraft supports missions in all-weather and geographic environments, including reaching austere locations.
The HC-130J is also tasked for airdrop, airland, and helicopter air-to-air refuelling and forward-area ground refuelling missions. It also supports humanitarian aid operations, disaster response, security cooperation/aviation advisory, emergency aeromedical evacuation and non-combatant evacuation operations.
George Shultz, Vice President and General Manager, Air Mobility & Maritime Missions at Lockheed Martin, said: “The 129th Rescue Wing has long relied on its MC-130Ps to exemplify the National Guard’s commitment to being, ‘Always Ready, Always There.
“The arrival of these new HC-130Js ensure these Airmen will have the increased power, enhanced capabilities and proven performance that will continue to help save lives – in California, throughout the Pacific region and around the world.”
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