As a reflection of the long-standing partnership between the United States and Colombia, the U.S. Air Force donated a C-130H Hercules aircraft to the Colombian air force. The aircraft is a tactical airlift platform capable of operating from rough, dirt air strips and is the U.S. Air Force’s primary transport for airdropping personnel and equipment. The Colombian air force will customize the aircraft over the coming months to meet the country’s specific needs, but adding it to the fleet improves readiness for a range of potential future missions, from disaster relief to humanitarian assistance to security operations. This is the first of several C-130 aircraft that will be donated by the United States under the Excess Defense Articles grant program. Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez (fourth from left), the U.S. Ambassador to Colombia Philip Goldberg (fifth from left), and U.S. Air Forces Southern Commander Maj. Gen. Cornish (second from left), among other dignitaries from both governments, attended the official ceremony, Oct. 6.
Photo by Sebastian Silva
