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A New C-130 The MC-130J Shadow II Completes First Flight By Eddy Metcalf |
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April 25, 2011 - The first Combat Shadow II for the
United States Air Force Special Operations Command has
completed its first flight at the Lockheed Martin
facility in Marietta. Less than one month after a
rollout ceremony for the aircraft’s AFSOC customer the
MC-130J has begun a series of flight tests prior to
delivery to Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., in September.
The new aircraft is based on a KC-130J tanker baseline and will have the Enhanced Service Life Wing, Enhanced Cargo Handling System, a Universal Aerial Refueling Receptacle Slipway Installation (boom refueling receptacle), more powerful electrical generators, an electro-optical/infrared sensor and a combat systems operator station on the flight deck. |
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In-line production of this configuration reduced cost and risk,
and fully supports the required 2012 Initial Operational
Capability date. Lockheed Martin is contracted to build 15 MC
130Js to begin replacing the current aging fleet. The U.S. Air
Force is authorized to acquire up to 20 MC-130Js against an
approved requirement for 37.
Beginning in 1997, studies of the vulnerability of the
non-stealthy MC-130 force reflected concerns about its viability
in modern high-threat environments, including the prevalence of
man-portable air-defense systems ("MANPADs") in asymmetric
conflicts. At least two studies were conducted or proposed to
explore the prospect of a replacement aircraft (known variously
as "MC-X" or "M-X"), with USAF at that time hoping for an
Initial Operating Capability date of 2018.
One analyst questioned the survivability of slow non-stealthy
platforms such as the MC-130 in future threat environments in a
2007 presentation to the Center for Strategic and International
Studies, and stated his opinion that development of a stealthy
replacement for the MC-130 is a "strategic priority".
The U.S. Department of Defense's 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review
Report also recognized the concern, asserting DoD's intention to
"enhance capabilities to support SOF insertion and extraction
into denied areas from strategic distances." |