The US Air Force has awarded R4‑Integration a $74-million contract to equip 39 HC‑130J Combat King II aircraft with Ku/Ka beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) communication systems.
Under the firm-fixed-price contract, the company will deliver the required hardware and software, integrate and test prototype kits, manufacture installation kits and spare parts, and provide satellite communication services that enable expanded use of Ku- and Ka-band frequencies.
The work will be carried out at several US Air Force locations, including Davis‑Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, Moody Air Force Base in Georgia, and Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, among other sites. The program is scheduled for completion by June 2030. Initial funding for the contract includes fiscal year 2025 allocations from the Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies initiative and the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account.
In recent years, the HC-130J fleet has undergone multiple modernization initiatives to enhance operational capability and strengthen aircraft numbers. Earlier this month, the US Coast Guard received its 18th mission-configured HC-130J long-range surveillance aircraft, equipped with the Minotaur Mission Systems Suite and advanced multi-mode radar technology supplied by L3Harris Technologies.
The aircraft will support homeland security and maritime surveillance missions from bases such as Sacramento, California and Barbers Point, Hawaii.
Earlier in January 2025, the service also received its 17th HC-130J Combat King II aircraft under its aerial mission systems modernization program. The effort aims to standardize sensors and communications systems across the fleet to improve surveillance, coordination, and command capabilities.
Additionally, in 2025, Raytheon secured a $100-million contract to support the HC-130J Combat King II fleet by refurbishing and upgrading electro-optical and infrared systems that are critical for personnel recovery and surveillance operations.
