Gen. William Fraser, US Transportation Command boss, delivered a factory-fresh C-130J transport to Dyess AFB, Tex., bringing the size of the base’s Super Hercules fleet to 22 airframes. Fraser flew in the airplane, aircraft number 5701, from Lockheed Martin’s production plant in Marietta, Ga., on Aug. 29, according to a company release. Dyess’ 317th Airlift Group is slated to receive a total of 28 C-130Js to replace its legacy C-130Hs. The final deliveries are scheduled in 2013. With a force of that size, Dyess will become the largest C-130J operator in the world, say Air Force and Lockheed Martin officials. (Dyess photo caption by A1C Peter Thompson)
The Air Force is upgrading some 70 MQ-9 Reapers to a new configuration that will keep the type capable and relevant to the near-peer fight for another 15 years. It awarded General Atomics a $272.3 million contract to enhance the Reaper's weapons, electric power, connectivity, and resistance to jamming, among…