Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall selected Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, as the preferred location to replace its eight C-130Hs with eight C-130Js.
This action recapitalizes an Air Force Reserve Command C-130H squadron, fulfilling the Fiscal Year 2021 Defense Appropriation and FY22 Omnibus bills, which congressionally added eight C-130J aircraft to AFRC.
The C-130J reduces manpower requirements, lowers operating and support costs, and provides life-cycle cost savings over earlier C-130 models. It is also capable of climbing faster and higher, flying farther at a higher cruise speed, and taking off and landing in a shorter distance. Youngstown ARS will continue to support Air Force Northern Command aerial spray mission and remain committed to their enduring tactical airlift mission.
Youngstown ARS was selected to host this mission after a site survey was conducted that assessed the location based on factors related to mission, infrastructure capacity, community support, environmental considerations, and cost.
The Department of the Air Force will now conduct an environmental impact analysis, which is expected to be complete in summer 2023, before a final basing decision is made.
Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia, and Minneapolis-St. Paul ARS, Minnesota, remain reasonable alternative locations.
