As part of the modernization process of its tactical airlift fleet, the United States Air Force (USAF) continues to move forward with the retirement of its veteran C-130H Hercules aircraft. After three decades of service in combat operations, humanitarian missions, and international deployments, one of the most emblematic aircraft—known as “Man o’ War” and assigned to the 123rd Airlift Wing of the Kentucky Air National Guard—officially concluded its operational career upon returning to its original base in Louisville. With this retirement, the service takes another step in the process of replacing the historic H-series.
The C-130H “Man o’ War”, serial number 91-1231, was the 2,000th aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin. Introduced into service in 1992 with the 123rd Airlift Wing, the aircraft accumulated more than 11,000 flight hours, taking part in humanitarian assistance missions in the Caribbean as well as combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2021, it was transferred to the 166th Airlift Wing of Delaware, a unit that is currently completing its transition to the C-130J Super Hercules. Its retirement, decided by the USAF, symbolizes the end of an era and progress toward a more modern, efficient, and technologically standardized fleet.
The gradual replacement of the C-130H with the new C-130J aircraft responds to a comprehensive plan by the Department of the Air Force aimed at optimizing resources and focusing efforts on aircraft with higher performance and lower maintenance requirements. In parallel, modernization projects for the H-models were suspended, such as the installation of the eight-bladed NP2000 composite propellers, a system that promised improvements in thrust, fuel consumption, and vibration reduction. The September 2025 budget reallocation published by the Pentagon redirected the funds originally earmarked for that upgrade toward the acquisition of new aircraft.
According to official data, the USAF had managed to equip around 90 aircraft with the NP2000 system prior to the suspension of the program. However, the reduction in the number of C-130H aircraft in service rendered its continuation unnecessary, as the remaining airframes are slated for retirement or transfer to third countries, as occurred with units transferred to the Argentine Air Force (TC-60) and the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE-898) in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
The C-130 Hercules, in its H version, a true emblem of U.S. tactical air mobility, has for more than four decades been the workhorse of the USAF and numerous allied air forces. Its ability to operate from unprepared runways and its versatility in transport missions, medical evacuation, airborne operations, and humanitarian assistance made it a cornerstone of modern military aviation. The H-series, successor to the B and E models, formed the backbone of Air National Guard airlift wings and multiple active-duty squadrons until recent years.
With the consolidation of the C-130J Super Hercules, the USAF is moving toward a unified fleet that incorporates Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 engines, six-bladed propellers, and fully digital avionics. In addition, the new model offers increased payload capacity—up to one additional pallet compared to the C-130H—along with greater range and reduced logistical requirements. It is estimated that by 2029 the Air Force will retain around 60 C-130H aircraft in service, while continuing deliveries of the Super Hercules to various airlift and logistics support units, thereby completing the transition to a new generation of tactical aircraft.
Image credits: U.S. Department of Defense.
You may also be interested in: Operation Southern Spear: F-35A stealth fighters arrive in Puerto Rico to reinforce the U.S. deployment in the Caribbean
