MC-130W program ceremony to celebrate success, completion Published March 26, 2010 By Wayne Crenshaw 78 ABW/PA ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Robins will celebrate the completion of the final MC-130W Combat Spear in a ceremony Tuesday. The aircraft is one of 12 C-130H2s modified to perform missions such as battlefield support, resupply of special operations forces and helicopter air refueling. The $380 million program involved the 572nd Aircraft Sustainment Squadron program office, the 402nd Maintenance Wing and L3-TCS, a contractor. The 402nd performed the modifications while L3-TCS did the engineering. The MC-130W program was the first public-private partnership integrated by the program office and earned the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center Acquisition Excellence Award. The modifications included the addition of an in-flight refueling receptacle and strengthening of the tail to allow the aircraft to make high speed/low-signature airdrops. Work on the first aircraft began in 2004. The aircraft are used by Air Force Special Operations Command. The final aircraft is going to a unit at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.