New Wing at Davis-Monthan Will Embrace AC-130s, MC-130s, CSAF Says

The Particular Operations “Energy Projection Wing” deliberate for Davis-Monthan Air Pressure Base, Ariz., will embody MC-130s, AC-130s, and “mild assault” plane—most likely the brand new Sky Wardens, Chief of Workers Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. instructed Congress on April 27. 

The brand new mixture of Air Pressure Particular Operations Command plane will exchange the A-10s now based mostly at Davis-Monthan as they’re retired in coming years. 

The Air Pressure cited plans for the 492nd Energy Projection Wing in its 2024 price range request and subsequently confirmed these plans to Air & Area Forces Journal. However precisely which plane could be included was not clear till now. 

Requested by Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) to offer extra particulars, Brown stated the Energy Projection Wing could be “bringing in our MC-130s, AC-130s, mild assault plane.”  

The MC-130 is a tanker/mobility plane, utilized by Particular Operations Forces for covert day, night time, and opposed climate infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply. The AC-130 gunship is used for convoy escort, level protection, and assist in city fight. Primarily based on the Air Tractor AT-802 crop duster, the closely modified Sky Warden gained the Armed Overwatch competitors. The plane will exchange Air Pressure Particular Operations Command’s getting old fleet of U-28A Draco ISR plane and increase remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper drones after they attain preliminary operational functionality in 2026. 

Additionally headed to Davis-Monthan are new EC-37 Compass Name digital warfare plane and HH-60W Jolly Inexperienced II search and rescue helicopters. 

“Their entry to the ranges which are there in Arizona and within the western United States will improve their coaching alternative,” Brown stated of all the brand new plane. 

Brown pledged the Air Pressure would work with native stakeholders and base officers to handle the stream of latest Airmen to Davis-Monthan as the brand new wing stands up. 

Gallego was considered one of 4 Arizona lawmakers—together with Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.)—to launch a joint letter earlier this month saying they had been “inspired by the Air Pressure’s intention to deliver new, sturdy flying missions” to Davis-Monthan and urging Air Pressure Secretary Frank Kendall to develop efforts to maintain the area people knowledgeable. 

Kendall did that in an April 19-20 go to to Davis-Monthan. A brand new Website Activation Job Pressure has already convened to contemplate what army development and associated adjustments is likely to be wanted on the base.