William Pryor: “I stand with Senator Saxby Chambliss and strongly support his amendment to ensure the C-130J contracts continue without…”

“I stand with Senator Saxby Chambliss and strongly support his amendment to ensure the C-130J contracts continue without interruption this year. The C-130J has quickly been adapted to play vital and unique roles in our national defense efforts. Today, both U.S. and Allied C-130Js are performing operational missions in CENTCOM with a mission capable rate of over 90 percent. The J performs missions in Iraq in 1 day that requires the C-130E or H model 2 days. It is equally critical for relief operations like the Tsunami effort in Asia, where lives were spared due to the C-130Js quick capabilities. I have made several visits to the Little Rock Air Force Base, the premier training facility for the C-130J, and I have seen first hand the J model's new features and capabilities. The C-130Js climb higher and faster, flies at higher cruise speeds, takes off and lands in a shorter distance, and is easier, safer and cheaper to operate than its predecessor. The military officials and troops who I have talked with want to continue using C-130Js and they depend on the model's new features on the ground. Cutting production of the C-130Js would not only deny our soldiers the cutting-edge technology they need on today's battlefield, but it would leave the Air Force and Marine Corps with an aging and far less capable tactical airlift. As I am sure my colleagues are aware, the Air Force recently grounded or severely restricted the flying of 90 C-130s due to old age.…”