AFSOC plans to demo amphibious MC-130J by end of next year, commander says (Leila Barghouty, Defense News)

A rendering of a twin float amphibious modification to an MC-130J Commando II is shown here. Air Force Special Operations Command and private sector counterparts are currently developing a Removable Amphibious Float Modification (RAFM) for the MC-130J, allowing aircraft to take off and land in bodies of water and conduct runway independent operations. (Courtesy U.S. Air Force)

Air Force Special Operations Command plans to demonstrate an amphibious version of the MC-130J Hercules by the end of next year, AFSOC’s commander told reporters Monday morning at the Air Force Association convention.

“I can say with certainty that our plan is to conduct a demo by the 31st of December next year.,” AFSOC commander Lt. Gen. Jim Slife said in a roundtable with media on Sept. 20. Slife emphasized that a flying demo would most likely feature a single aircraft and would be aimed at validating digitally engineered models that the program has run so far on the aircraft’s capabilities.

AFSOC plans to demo amphibious MC-130J by end of next year, commander says (defensenews.com)