Moody welcomes HC-130J Combat King II

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sandra Marrero
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Moody welcomed the first of nine new HC-130J Combat King II aircraft in a ceremony held July 19.

The more technologically-advanced C-130 model is scheduled to replace the nearly 50-year-old fleet of HC-130Ps Air Force-wide.

"It is true that we are engaged in a new generation, a new age of ... robotics and other technology that seemingly was unimaginable just a few years ago," said former Georgia senator Samuel Nunn.

The new model is more powerful than its predecessor. It features better navigation, improved fuel efficiency and threat detection. The aircraft's helicopter air-to-air refueling pods allow it to simultaneously refuel two helicopters, and its forward-looking-infrared-camera helps crews to more precisely locate and track survivors.

Nunn believes the features are an important tool in the hands of Air Force personnel.

"Today's ceremony is about two great pillars of strength," said Nunn. "First and foremost, it is about the extraordinary dedication and skills of the men and women, and families of the U.S. Air Force and civilian personnel who support them. And second, it's about the tools that they must have to do their job and do it properly. The HC-130J Combat King II is one of the most important tools in the world."

Nunn said the men and women at Moody have a mission of the highest priority and this new aircraft will help them accomplish it
 
"It has elaborate defense systems that allow it to penetrate into ... austere and denied territory," said Nunn. "In plain English, this means it can go where all hell has either already broken loose or is expected to break loose by the time you get there. For the fixed-wing combat search and rescue mission, there is quite literally no better aircraft in the world."

The new aircraft is set to continue executing combat search and rescue and personnel recovery missions throughout the world, just as its predecessor has done for so many years.

"The HC-130P Combat King...has served the Air Force and the rescue community for almost 50 years and has been part of the Moody mission since 1994," said U.S. Air Force Col. Chad Franks, 23d Wing commander. "In these aircraft, our outstanding rescue Airmen have accumulated thousands of combat flying hours and executed both combat and civilian search and rescue missions."

Franks expects the newly acquired HC-130J Combat King II to help further these accomplishments.

"In any place in the world, if we need to put on a rescue operation, we'll do it, and this airplane will absolutely be a force multiplier in the years to come," said 9th Air Force commander, U.S. Air Force Major General Jake Polumbo.