Sen. Cruz Congratulates Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth On Selection As Home For New C-130J Aircraft

HOUSTON, Texas – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement after the U.S. Air Force announced that Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth has been selected to house the new C-130J aircraft: 

“I applaud the Air Force for selecting Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth to receive the new C-130J aircraft, which will replace eight of the older C-130H aircraft at the base. Given that these new aircraft can fly faster, higher, and farther with more cargo, the C-130J will be a welcome addition to the base’s existing fleet. This excellent news serves as yet another acknowledgement of the tremendous value that both Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth and the local community offer to our nation’s defense.”

BACKGROUND

There are currently thirteen Air National Guard (ANG) C-130H tactical airlift units without a Formal Training Unit or LC-130 special missions aircraft in the United States.  In March of 2020, the Secretary of the Air Force selected eight of those airlift unit locations as candidates for placement of three Air National Guard squadrons of eight C-130J aircraft each. Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth was named the primary or preferred location for the first eight aircraft which are scheduled to achieve Initial Operational Capability (IOC) by the Winter of 2022, pending a necessary Environmental Assessment.

###