Lasers, water landings, crewless ops: Upgrades are coming for the C-130 family
By Todd South
Thursday, May 19
The MC-130J Commando II and the KC130J Super Hercules aircraft are experimenting with high-energy lasers, amphibious landing and takeoff, and potentially a crewless, fully automated cockpit, if U.S. Special Operations Command’s work is successful.
Program officers laid out the details of the C-130 family of aircraft on Wednesday at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference, hosted in Tampla, Florida, by the National Defense Industrial Association.
The aircraft, first built in the 1950s, has served generations of troops in combat across the globe. But it’s now facing contested airspace as it has never seen.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2022/05/19/lasers-water-landings-crewless-ops-upgrades-are-coming-for-the-c-130-family/
