DECEMBER 23, 2022 – Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall selected Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, as the preferred location to replace its eight C-130Hs with eight C-130Js.
This action recapitalizes an Air Force Reserve Command C-130H squadron, fulfilling the Fiscal Year 2021 Defense Appropriation and FY22 Omnibus bills, which congressionally added eight C-130J aircraft to AFRC.
The C-130J reduces manpower requirements, lowers operating and support costs, and provides life-cycle cost savings over earlier C-130 models. It is also capable of climbing faster and higher, flying farther at a higher cruise speed, and taking off and landing in a shorter distance. Youngstown ARS will continue to support Air Force Northern Command aerial spray mission and remain committed to their enduring tactical airlift mission.
Youngstown ARS was selected to host this mission after a site survey was conducted that assessed the location based on factors related to mission, infrastructure capacity, community support, environmental considerations, and cost.
The Department of the Air Force will now conduct an environmental impact analysis, which is expected to be complete in summer 2023, before a final basing decision is made.
Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia, and Minneapolis-St. Paul ARS, Minnesota, remain reasonable alternative locations.
The C-130J is the latest addition to the C-130 fleet and has replaced aging C-130Es and some of the high time C-130Hs. The C-130J incorporates state-of-the-art technology, which reduces manpower requirements, lowers operating and support costs, and provides life-cycle cost savings over earlier C-130 models. Compared to older C-130s, the J model climbs faster and higher, flies farther at a higher cruise speed, and takes off and lands in a shorter distance. The C-130J-30 is a stretch version, adding 15 feet to the fuselage, increasing usable space in the cargo compartment.
C-130J/J-30 major system improvements include advanced two-pilot flight station with fully integrated digital avionics, color multifunctional liquid crystal and head-up displays and state-of-the-art navigation that includes a dual inertial navigation system and GPS. The aircraft also features fully integrated defensive systems, low-power color radar, digital moving map display, new turboprop engines with six-bladed all-composite propellers and a digital auto pilot. The C-130J/J-30 also includes improved fuel, environmental and ice-protection and an enhanced cargo-handling system.
By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs