Stefanik, Tonko Advocate for Updating New York Air National Guard’s Planes

Letter

Dear Secretary Austin,

We write with deep concern regarding the United States' ability to maintain a strategic presence in the Arctic and Antarctic regions due to the aging LC-130 Hercules (LC-130H) fleet. The LC-130Hs, operated by the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing, are the only platform in the world that can provide critical logistical support in the Arctic and Antarctica, yet these planes are reaching the end of their operational capacity, and the Department of Defense is not acting with the necessary urgency to recapitalize these planes. As Russia and the People's Republic of China (PRC continue to advance their interests in the Arctic and Antarctica, it is critical that the United States maintain a robust presence in these regions.

Since Vladimir Putin's invasion into Ukraine, Russia and the PRC have been increasing joint efforts to undermine American presence in the Arctic region.' In 2023, Russia and China announced a new partnership to build economic infrastructure along the Northern Sea Route and conducted ajoint patrol consisting of 1 warships offthe coast of Alaska.? To counter these threats, the United States must maintain a strong presence in the Arctic. Former U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) Commander General VanHerck made this clear when he stated, "A key piece of campaigning is presence, specifically having the relationships and access to operate in the region. As I advocate for capabilities for the Arctic, I also advocate for being in the Arctic. Additionally, in the March 14, 2024, Senate Armed Services Committee NORTHCOM posture hearing, the current NORTHCOM Commander, General Guillot specifically highlighted that U.S. military exercises in the Arctic are "an extremely important operation that demonstrates our capability up there with the submarines and LC-130s."

China and Russia's polar ambitions are not limited to the Arctic. In 2023, the PRC completed construction of their fifth research station on Antarctica which, according to a Center for Strategic and International Studies report is China's "most significant expansion ofits footprint there in a decade." This new station will give the PRC the ability to collect intelligence signals and telemetry data from Australia and New Zealand. As the only planes that can transportfuel throughout the United States' Antarctic stations, the LC-130s are critical to countering the growing PRC presence in Antarctica.

Increasing tensions, emerging capabilities, and global instability have opened the polar regions to be the next theaters for great power competition and the United States must be prepared to counter and deter this threat. This will require consistent and persistent U.S. presence in the
North and South poles. To accomplish this, the United States relies solely on the LC-130H aircraft totransport equipment and supplies to and within the polar regions." As the only aircraft equipped with skis and capable of landing on ice and snow, the LC-130 provides the necessary logistical support to remote Arctic and Antarctic locations where conventional aircraft cannot operate.° This specialized capability allows the United States ot efficiently deliver essential equipment, fuel, supplies, and personnel to and within Antarctica and the Greenland ice cap, the only aircraft of its kind ni the world with this capability? Without this capability, the United
States would lose significant power projection and logistical capabilities in the polar regions.

The LC-130Hs have allowed the United States to maintain a strategic lead in the Arctic and Antarctic regions for fifty years. However, these planes are in urgent need of recapitalization. The ten LC-130H planes operated by the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing are experiencing significant decreases in their mission capability rates due to the age oftheir aircraft. To maintain our strategic polar advantage, we are urging you to quickly recapitalize the LC-
130Hs. At a time when the polar regions are developing into the next frontiers of great power competition, it is critical that we do not lose the logistical advantage that the LC-130s provide.

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