HC-130J Combat King II delivered to California Air National Guard

Lockheed Martin has delivered the first HC-130J Combat King II combat search and rescue tanker to the California Air National Guard. The HC-130J will be operated by the 129th Rescue Wing (RQW) at Moffett Air National Guard Base in California. The 129th RQW currently operates a fleet of MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft, which will be replaced by four new HC-130Js, and a fleet of HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters, which are built by Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky business.

George Shultz, vice president and general manager, Air Mobility & Maritime Missions at Lockheed Martin, commented: “The arrival of these new HC-130Js ensure these Airmen will have the increased power, enhanced capabilities and proven performance that will continue to help save lives — in California, throughout the Pacific region and around the world.”

The HC-130J is also tasked for airdrop, airland, and helicopter air-to-air refuelling and forward-area ground refuelling missions. It also supports humanitarian aid operations, disaster response, security cooperation/aviation advisory, emergency aeromedical evacuation and non-combat evacuation operations.

Photo by Thinh Nguyen