U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is looking to equip their workhorse plane to operate on land and water. AFSOC said this week that it will conduct a rapid prototyping effort to increase the "runway independence and expeditionary capacity" of its MC-130J by developing "a removable amphibious float modification." The $114 million aircraft has advanced navigation and radar systems that allow it to operate in unfriendly territory, but the MC-130J Commando II Amphibious Capability, as the effort is called, will allow it to support operations at sea and in near-shore areas, according to AFSOC. AFSOC is working with the Air Force Research Lab's Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation directorate and with private industry. The command plans to use a five-phase rapid prototyping schedule that will allow it to conduct an operational capability demonstration in 17 months. (Source: Business Insider, 09/16/21) AFSOC is headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Fla.
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