Equipped for flight

A wing is lifted above a C-130J at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facility in Marietta, Georgia, before being attached to the aircraft. The 374th Airlift Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan, is scheduled to receive its first C-130J (the aircraft in the photo) by the end of 4th quarter 2016. (Photo by Andrew McMurtrie)

First Yokota C-130J takes shape

Published May 26, 2016
By Air Mobility & Maritime Missions
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

MARIETTA, Georgia -- Wings were recently installed on the first C-130J Super Hercules assigned to Yokota Air Base, Japan, at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facility in Marietta, which is home to the C-130 production line.

Yokota AB will receive 14 C-130Js as it recapitalizes its existing C-130H fleet, which are operated by the 374th Airlift Wing. This C-130J is expected to deliver to the U.S. Air Force by end of 4th Quarter 2016.

The 374 AW includes four groups: operations, mission support, maintenance and medical. Each group manages several squadrons in order to carry out the wing's mission. Yokota has been home to C-130s since it first hosted the 345th Tactical Airlift Squadron in 1975.

The C130J is the latest version of the Hercules, entering the inventory in February 1999. The aircraft has a six-bladed composite propeller coupled to a Rolls-Royce AE2100D3 turbo engine and brings substantial performance improvements over the previous H model.

News about this milestone Super Hercules will be shared with team members as it moves through final production.