The Royal Australian Air Force last week retired its C-130H airlift fleet after 34 years of service in a ceremony at RAAF Base Richmond near Sydney, announced Australian defense officials. “C-130H Hercules have played a critical role in supporting defense personnel on operations in East Timor, Iraq, and Afghanistan,” noted Australian Defense Minister Stephen Smith in a statement on Nov. 30, the same day as the retirement ceremony. The RAAF had operated a total of 12 C-130Hs, which Australia is in the process of replacing with a dozen C-130J airplanes. “The newer generation of C-130Js will carry on the legacy,” said Smith. The RAAF is currently undergoing an airlift overhaul, replacing its C-7 Caribous with 10 C-27Js in addition to acquiring six C-17s. Lockheed delivered Australia’s first C-130H in 1978, according to the release.
Congress wants new engines in the F-35 fleet, with installs starting in 2027, according to language in the conference version of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. The Air Force is to use at least one of the engines developed under the Advanced Engine Transition Program, but the Navy and…