3. The Combat King II, HC-130J
I joined the service in 2010.
Not retired: N/A
Expense: *$66 million
The HC-130J Combat King II is a combat rescue aircraft that has been reconfigured to facilitate tilt-rotor and helicopter refueling. Additional fuel tanks are located in the cargo compartment, and the Combat King II’s underwing pylons are equipped with refueling pods. In 2010, the Lockheed Martin Combat King II made its first flight.
Twitter.com, Lockheed Martin, and HC-130J Combat King II
Soon after, the Air Force received the first CKII, although it required additional testing before it could reach IOC two years later. The USAF declared that it would purchase seventy-eight CKIIs to outfit rescue squadrons from the USAF, ANG, and AFRC.
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