23 March, 2019: Lockheed Martin, a global security and aerospace company has delivered the first of four HC-130J Combat King II aircraft today to representatives from the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing (RQW).
The 102nd Rescue Squadron (RQS) at Francis S. Grabreski Air National Guard Base, New York will operate the HC-130J. Currently, the 102nd RQS, which is part of the 106th Rescue Wing (RQW), operates a legacy fleet of HC-130P/N variant Combat King I aircraft, which will be replaced by four new HC-130Js.
The HC-130Js will be used by the squadron to refuel the New York Air National Guard’s 101st RQS HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, which were manufactured by Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky business in Stratford, Connecticut.
The crews from 106th RQW uses HC-130s to extend the range of combat search and rescue helicopters by providing air refuelling in hostile or contested airspace. Other mission capabilities include performing tactical delivery of pararescue teams, small bundles, zodiac watercraft or four-wheel drive all-terrain vehicles; and providing direct assistance to survivors in advance of a recovery vehicle. The HC-130J is also used for airdrop, airland, and helicopter air-to-air refuelling and forward-area ground refuelling missions.