FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, December 3, 2014
CONTACT: Ian Koski at 202-224-5042
Defense authorization includes language to protect Delaware Air National Guard
Bill includes measure that may help keep Delaware’s C-130H aircraft operational past 2020
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today applauded the introduction of a bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2015 that opens the door to a lower-cost approach to modernizing the Air National Guard’s existing fleet of C-130H aircraft. The Delaware Air National Guard (DANG) currently operates eight C-130H planes for tactical airlifts.
Starting in 2020, American and European regulators will begin requiring planes to have new, advanced communications and avionics equipment on board, which will require upgrades to the existing C-130H. The existing upgrade plan — the Avionics Modernization Plan — ran over budget and wouldn’t have met the complete needs of the Air National Guard, requiring a lower-cost replacement approach. The NDAA released on Wednesday allows the Air Force to explore alternative modernization approaches available at a fraction of the cost.
“C-130Hs play a critical role in both military and humanitarian relief operations, moving troops and equipment into and out of global hotspots,” Senator Coons said. “These are older airframes, though, and need to be modernized to keep flying safely. The Air Force has been working hard to meet new standards for advanced technology on its aircraft, but upgrades to our C-130Hs have lagged behind and put Delaware Air National Guard’s fleet at risk of being grounded. Without avionics upgrades to these airframes, the scope of DANG’s mission would be significantly reduced. The Air Force needs a new approach and new flexibility for modernizing its C-130Hs, and this bipartisan defense authorization will allow them to find one. It will help ensure our service members have the equipment they need to carry out their missions, and it will do so in a way that protects Delaware jobs and saves taxpayer dollars. I look forward to seeing the Air Force’s new strategy and to ensuring it receives the funding it needs in next year’s Appropriations process.”
The House and Senate are both expected to vote on the NDAA before Congress adjourns for the year.
Senator Coons cosponsored similar legislation earlier this year to allow the Air Force to pursue an alternative lower-cost modernization strategy. It was endorsed by the National Guard Association of the United States, the Adjutants General Association of the United States, and the U.S. Air Force.