58 SOW to receive new HC-130J

  • Published
  • By Stefan Bocchino
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. --  The 58th Special Operations Wing will receive a new aircraft on Thursday, when the HC-130J "Combat King II" arrives at Kirtland Air Force Base.

The 58 SOW will also receive its first MC-130J "Combat Shadow II" in October, as part of the recapitalization of the aging HC/MC-130P fleet.

"We are very proud to be entrusted with receiving these brand new, state-of-the-art aircraft," said Col. James Cardoso, 58 SOW commander. "This will not only greatly increase our capabilities to train mission-ready aircrew in HC-130J and MC-130J, it will provide a modernized, long-term training environment for the entire special operations and personnel recovery communities by also executing comprehensive and synchronized training with our CV-22s and HH-60s."

The HC-130J is a modern personnel recovery aircraft, while the MC-130J specializes in special operations, said Lt. Col. Nicola Gismondi, 415th Special Operations Squadron commander. These aircraft deliver increased versatility and operational capability to the warfighter with more powerful engines, enhanced avionics, and personnel recovery/special operations-unique features he said.

The Air Force says the C-130Js fly higher, faster and further than the previous C-130 models.

"Team Kirtland will now employ these new aircraft to train mission-ready personnel recovery and special operations aircrews," said Gismondi. "These quieter, more fuel-efficient and reduced-emissions aircraft will be linked to a newly built state-of-the-art training environment, incorporating immersive computer-aided instructional methodology and aircraft simulators all designed to provide agile and effective training operations to our warfighting customers."

Some of the enhancements to these aircraft include advanced multispectral sensors, modernized refueling systems, a fully functional combat system operator crew station, enhanced cargo handling and a well-defined growth path to even greater combat capability, said Gismondi.

"The 58 SOW will be able to continue its heritage and train the next generation HC-130J personnel recovery and MC-130J special operations aircrew," said Gismondi. "With these aircraft and the outstanding local area training environment, aircrew are given the best opportunity to succeed. Once these aircrew graduate, they will be deploying with the new aircraft to showcase its operational capabilities."

On Thursday, 58th Special Operations Wing Detachment 1 was deactivated and the 415 SOS was activated. Detachment 1 was activated Oct. 1, 2009, to execute the initial operations, logistics and maintenance planning to ensure the 58 SOW is ready to begin the aircrew training mission in early 2012. The initial cadre was formed to provide trained subject-matter experts and instructors for the aircraft once their training mission begins.

"It's a great opportunity to standup a new unit and to get new airplanes," said Gismondi. "It's very seldom that you get to do that in your career."

The 58 SOW will receive the first MC-130J on Oct. 9 and two MC/HC-130J aircraft by the end of 2012, said Gismondi. Additionally, the unit is scheduled to receive one aircraft each year in 2013, 2014 and 2015, for a total of seven aircraft.

The C-130J is considered a completely different aircraft from previous versions of the C-130 and full mission qualification training takes about eight months. The training program is streamlined to incorporate a variety of backgrounds across the five-person crew, said Gismondi.

"We will have basic aircrew training for personnel who have no previous experience in any aircraft," said Gismondi. "We will also have aircrew cross training from different types of aircraft into the C-130J aircraft. Finally we will train aircrew who have experience in the personnel recovery and special operations side."