THE AIR FORCE WANTS OUT OF THE C-130H BUSINESS. Service officials converted their last active-component H-model unit to the newer C-130J Hercules three years ago. But the venerable cargo planes remain in large numbers in the Air National Guard (123 of its 139 standard C-130s are C-130Hs), where they are busy both at home and abroad for a long time. The problem is, the Lockheed-built workhorses, some of which have been around since 1973, need a lot of modernization, including new avionics, new engines and new propellers. The full package carries a hefty price tag at a time when the Air Force much prefers spending on next-generation aircraft. Replacing C-130s is even more expensive. Consequently, the service is looking to pare the fleet, which currently totals 300 standard H- and J-models across the Total Air Force. A plan in the president's budget would see that number reduced to 255 by 2026.
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