The US Air Force is pushing ahead on multiple efforts this week. Sierra Nevada Corp is designing a ski-equipped version of the LC-130J to support missions in polar environments, with AeroTime reporting the service is nearly ready to field the modified Hercules. A separate USAF flight from New Zealand to Antarctica was forced to return after receiving a Russian space warning.
The service is also developing a long-range strike weapon with a reported range of 1,000 miles. Together, the moves reflect an Air Force intent on both supporting operations in isolated areas and hitting targets far from its bases.