New Pentagon Contract Signals Lockheed Martin’s C-130 Airlifter Is Headed For 100 Years Of Service (From Forbes)

The Pentagon disclosed on December 30 that it will be ordering 78 more C-130J Super Hercules airlifters under a new multiyear contract.  That’s good news for the joint force, which relies on an aging fleet of C-130s for everything from resupply of remote bases to aerial refueling to combat rescue to close air support.  However, the announcement also has potential historical significance: if the planes ordered under the new contract fly for anywhere near as long as the planes they are replacing, then the C-130 will become the first military aircraft in history to be in continuous service for over a century.  I have written a commentary for Forbes explaining why this rugged, versatile aircraft is likely to stay in the joint force’s active inventory longer than any other.  You can read the commentary here.