C-130

Latest in C-130

The US Air Force has been work working to improve the ability of HC-130J Combat King II combat search and rescue aircraft carrying Angry Kitten pods to receive reprogramming updates in near-real-time via satellite.

Angry Kitten Jamming Pod Testing On HC-130J Focuses On Receiving Threat Updates Via Satellite

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 14, 2026

President Donald Trump and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine provided new details about the risky missions to rescue the crew of an F-15E Strike Eagle shot down over Iran.

Everything We Now Know About The Operation To Rescue The F-15E WSO (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 7, 2026

FARP in Iran set up by special tactics squadron airman during WSO rescue.

How A Dusty Strip Deep In Iran Can Be Turned Into A U.S. Special Operations Base In Hours

By Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 6, 2026

The WSO of an F-15E Strike Eagle shot down over Iran has been rescued, according to reports.

F-15E Weapon Systems Officer Shot Down Over Iran Has Been Rescued (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Apr 5, 2026

The U.S. Marine Corps has quietly axed the roll-on/roll-off Harvest Hawk armament kit for its KC-130J Hercules tanker/transport aircraft.

KC-130J’s Hellfire Missile-Firing Harvest Hawk Kits Retired By Marines

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 23, 2026

A surge of aircraft from the U.S. to the U.K. has sparked speculation of a SOF aviation buildup.

U.S. Special Ops Aircraft Arriving In UK Could Point To Looming Oil Tanker Boarding Operation

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jan 5, 2026

In a phone call to ABC radio in New York, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed an attack inside Venezuela. The White House has yet to offer any proof.

Trump Doubles Down On Claim U.S. Attacked Inside Venezuela (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Updated on Dec 29, 2025

The presence of U.S. special operations forces is growing in the Caribbean.

CV-22B Osprey, MC-130J Commando II Special Ops Aircraft Deploy To Puerto Rico

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 23, 2025

A U.S. Air Force EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare plane was seen landing in Puerto Rico.

EC-130H Compass Call Electronic Warfare Plane Joins Growing U.S. Force In Caribbean

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 23, 2025

U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters, assigned to the 943d Rescue Group, conduct helicopter air-to-air refueling with an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft,

Combat Rescue Aircraft, Tankers Arrive In Caribbean As U.S. Military Buildup Accelerates

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 12, 2025

As it now stands, the Boeing 707-based E-6B is slated to be replaced by the E-130J aircraft, which Northrop Grumman will modify from Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 cargo planes.

Congress Wants To Know If The C-130 Hercules Could Be The USAF’s New ‘Doomsday Plane’

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Dec 8, 2025

Videos show a Turkish Air Force C-130E Hercules cargo plane falling in multiple pieces from the sky earlier today.

Detached Wings From Doomed Turkish C-130 Seen Spiraling Into The Ground (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 11, 2025

C-130H Eight-Bladed NP2000 Prop Upgrade Plans Cut Short By USAF

C-130H Eight-Bladed NP2000 Prop Upgrade Plans Cut Short By USAF

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 8, 2025

A LC-130 "Skibird" assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing, New York Air National Guard, operates in Antarctica in 2022.

Funds Shifted To Develop New LC-130J “Ski Bird” Polar Airlifters

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 1, 2025

New pictures offer the best look to date at an Air Force HC-130J Combat King II combat search and rescue aircraft (CSAR) carrying an Angry Kitten electronic warfare pod.

Angry Kitten Electronic Warfare Pod Spotted Flying On HC-130J Combat Rescue Plane

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 29, 2025

Leidos has raised the possibility of eventually integrating its Black Arrow, also known as the Small Cruise Missile, in the MQ-9 Reaper drone and the OA-1K Skyraider II light attack aircraft. The roughly 200-pound munition has, so far, been tested from C-130 variants but offers the kinds of capabilities that U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is increasingly looking at harnessing.

Tiny Black Arrow Cruise Missile Demonstrates A Whopping 400-Mile Range

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 24, 2025