On January 16, the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) celebrated the delivery of the final production MC-130J Commando II aircraft. This aircraft, numbered 5594, marks the last in a series that began production by Lockheed Martin in 2011, aimed at replacing the MC-130H, MC-130E, and MC-130P models.
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Known as the Commando II, the MC-130J, which is based on Lockheed Martin’s C-130J Super Hercules, serves as one of the primary platforms for deploying U.S. Air Force special operations forces.
Until the end of its production, these aircraft were manufactured and assembled by Lockheed Martin at the so-called Air Force Plant 6, located at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Georgia. They were then sent to the Rapid Development Integration Facility at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, where they received mission-specific equipment and modifications to convert them into MC-130J Commando IIs.
Thanks to these modifications, the aircraft can be refueled mid-air, refuel other aircraft, and perform missions such as infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply, both via air or ground landings for special operations forces.
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As for the final Commando II production aircraft, numbered 5594, it was received by the 415th Special Operations Squadron, part of the 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base. This base also houses the first production MC-130J, which was delivered back in 2011.
Before its delivery, the squadron spent two weeks conducting inspections to ensure the aircraft was ready to fulfill its role within the unit, which will primarily focus on training new pilots and crews during flight training missions.
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To date, with the end of MC-130J production, the U.S. Air Force reportedly has a total of 64 Commando II aircraft, according to various local media. Additionally, when combining all specialized aircraft based on the C-130J platform (MC-130J, AC-130J, and HC-130J), the total rises to 134 units.
Looking ahead, AFSOC plans to focus on expanding and modernizing the MC-130J fleet with new equipment. Key initiatives include equipping the aircraft with the new Raytheon AN/APQ-187 Silent Knight terrain-following radar, enhanced mission network systems, and strengthening communications systems with advanced radio countermeasures.
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