Marietta, GA – Maj. Gen. Justin Hoffman, Deputy Commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, attended a delivery milestone on Dec 13, 2024 in Marietta, Georgia for the command’s final MC-130J Commando II. The fly-away ceremony commemorated the final stage of Lockheed Martin’s aircraft production for the MC-130J program and last handover to the Air Force.
“For decades, Lockheed Martin has consistently delivered critical capabilities for Air Commandos in a timely and effective manner,” said Hoffman. “As we continue in an era of strategic competition, we will continue to develop platforms to address future needs and integrate new capabilities.”
The first MC-130J was delivered in September 2011 to Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. It first deployed in March 2013 to Afghanistan and supported over 400 missions, flying more than 2,000 hours, and moving an estimated 12,000 passengers and 9.4 million pounds of cargo.
The C-130J served as the recapitalization solution for AFSOC, modernizing 40-year-old legacy AC and MC fleets providing advanced avionics, navigation, and survivability features to enhance Special Operations mobility and strike.
“AFSOC’s receipt of the final MC-130J culminates an over fifteen-year effort to recapitalize and re-baseline the Special Operations C-130 fleet,” said Col. T. Justin Bronder, Special Operations Command PEO Fixed Wing. “This delivery marks both the end of this effort and the beginning of a new era; we will continue to relentlessly evolve AFSOC’s C-130s to ensure these aircraft possesses capabilities to advance our future force.”
Known as the Commando II, the MC-130J flies infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces by airdrop or airland as well as air refueling missions.
The final MC-130J will be delivered to the 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland AFB in New Mexico to train future AFSOC Air Commandos in the formal training unit.
By AFSOC Public Affairs
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