Home Air US Air Force Reserve receives first HC-130J Combat King II

US Air Force Reserve receives first HC-130J Combat King II

HC-130J
Photo: Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin has delivered the US Air Force Reserve’s first HC-130J Combat King II aircraft to a crew from the 920th Rescue Wing (RQW) from Patrick Air Force Base, Florida.

This HC-130J will be operated by the 39th Rescue Squadron (RQS), which is part of the 920th RQW.

These Reservists are long-time operators of legacy HC-130 P/N Combat King combat search-and-rescue aircraft, flying and maintaining HC-130s since the 1960s — using HC-130s to save more than 3,000 lives.

The HC-130J is the sole dedicated fixed-wing personnel recovery platform operated by the Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard.

The 920th RQW and 39th RQS also have the distinction of being the Air Force Reserve’s only HC-130J operators and will eventually have an HC-130J fleet to support mission requirements.

Often tasked for airdrop, airland, and helicopter air-to-air refueling and forward-area ground refueling missions, the HC-130’s mission capabilities also include humanitarian aid operations, disaster response, security cooperation/aviation advisory, emergency aeromedical evacuation and noncombatant evacuation operations.

“As we salute one fleet for a lifetime’s worth of work, we are also excited to commemorate a new era with the arrival of the US Air Force Reserve’s first HC-130J Combat King II. This HC-130J provides the Citizen Airmen with increased power, capability and performance to continue to support critical missions close to home and around the world,” said Rod McLean, vice president and general manager, Air Mobility & Maritime Missions at Lockheed Martin.

The HC-130J is one of nine production variants of the C-130J Super Hercules, the current production model of the C-130 Hercules aircraft.