Lockheed Martin announced Tuesday that the 37th Airlift Squadron at Ramstein AB, Germany, on Sept. 1 took delivery of the fifth of the 14 C-130J transports that it is scheduled to receive by next year. The unit received its first C-130J in April; the new aircraft are replacing its C-130Es that are being retired. Among their duties, the Ramstein C-130Js will support the needs of Ramstein’s 17th Air Force (Air Forces Africa), the air component of US Africa Command. “When you look at the power of the C-130J, and the legs [range] that it has, it is ideally suited to the size of the African continent and our mission there,” said Maj. Gen. Ronald Ladnier, 17th AF commander, who accepted the aircraft. Five more C-130Js are scheduled for delivery to Ramstein this year, with the remaining four slated for arrival in 2010.
Lessons from the KC-46 and F-35 will prove useful to the testing community in the years to come, the nominee to take over the role of director of operational test and evaluation for the Pentagon told lawmakers Oct. 19.