C-130 READ OF THE DAY
Lasers, water landings, crewless ops: Upgrades are coming for the C-130 family
By Todd South
May 19, 04:36 PM
Loadmasters assigned to the 1st Special Operations Squadron look out over Mt. Fuji from the back of an MC-130J Commando II during a flight over Japan in a 2021 training exercise. (Senior Airman Jessi Monte/U.S. Air Force)
TAMPA, Fla. — The most advanced versions of the military’s long-running tanker-turned-death-dealer are expected to get even more toys under the direction of the special operations community.
The MC-130J Commando II and the KC130J Super Hercules aircraft are experimenting with high-energy lasers, amphibious landing and takeoff, and potentially a crewless, fully automated cockpit, if U.S. Special Operations Command’s work is successful.
Lasers, water landings, crewless ops: Upgrades are coming for the C-130 family
By Todd South
May 19, 04:36 PM
Loadmasters assigned to the 1st Special Operations Squadron look out over Mt. Fuji from the back of an MC-130J Commando II during a flight over Japan in a 2021 training exercise. (Senior Airman Jessi Monte/U.S. Air Force)
TAMPA, Fla. — The most advanced versions of the military’s long-running tanker-turned-death-dealer are expected to get even more toys under the direction of the special operations community.
The MC-130J Commando II and the KC130J Super Hercules aircraft are experimenting with high-energy lasers, amphibious landing and takeoff, and potentially a crewless, fully automated cockpit, if U.S. Special Operations Command’s work is successful.
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Lt Col Charlie Brown SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. SGT Charlie Lee
PO2 Marco Monsalve SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth ]
SSG William Jones Sgt (Join to see) SrA John Monette SFC Bernard Walko
SPC Michael Terrell SMSgt Anil Heendeniya CPL Douglas Chrysler A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney GySgt Jack Wallace CDR Andrew McMenamin, PhD SGT Mark Anderson