The C-130 Hercules aircraft, which was introduced over half a century ago, is often flown by crew members who are younger than the plane they are flying. And that peculiar arrangement is likely to continue into the foreseeable future, says a new report from the Congressional Research Service.
“The C-130 has been the cornerstone of the U.S. tactical airlift fleet since the late 1950s. Military planners believe that C-130 aircraft provide the United States an edge in achieving national goals. They provide a capability to rapidly deliver forces making conventional deterrence more effective and expanding the ability to provide humanitarian assistance. However, the fleet has aged with some current models being flown by aircrew younger than the aircraft they are flying. As the fleet ages, management issues arise with reduced reliability, obsolescence and reduced parts availability, and changing aviation rules that impact availability of airspace due to obsolete avionics capabilities,” the CRS report said.
See C-130 Hercules: Background, Sustainment, Modernization, Issues for Congress, June 24, 2014.
Other newly updated CRS reports on Navy force structure and related issues include the following.
Navy Shipboard Lasers for Surface, Air, and Missile Defense: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014
Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014
Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014
Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014
Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014
Navy LX(R) Amphibious Ship Program: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014
Navy TAO(X) Oiler Shipbuilding Program: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014
Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014
At this inflection point, the choice is not between speed and safety but between ungoverned acceleration and a calculated momentum that allows our strategic AI advantage to be both sustained and secured.
Improved detection could strengthen deterrence, but only if accompanying hazards—automation bias, model hallucinations, exploitable software vulnerabilities, and the risk of eroding assured second‑strike capability—are well managed.
New initiative brings nine experts with federal government experience to work with the FAS and Tech & Society’s Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation, the Knight-Georgetown Institute, and the Institute for Technology Law & Policy Wednesday, June 11, 2025—Today Georgetown University’s Tech & Society Initiative and the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) announce two […]
A dedicated and properly resourced national entity is essential for supporting the development of safe, secure, and trustworthy AI to drive widespread adoption, by providing sustained, independent technical assessments and emergency coordination.