Four C-130 Hercules transports equipped with second-generation Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems, or MAFFS 2, arrived at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, in mid June to conduct firefighting missions in support of wildfire suppression efforts in the Southwestern US. Two of the aircraft are C-130Js from the 146th Airlift Wing, the California Air National Guard unit at Channel Islands ANGB, and two are C-130Hs from the 145th AW, the North Carolina ANG unit from Charlotte. Referred to as the 115th Air Expeditionary Airlift Squadron during the deployment, crews will be tasked by the Forest Service to battle fires in several states. The first mission was conducted on 16 June on the wildfires near Raton, New Mexico.
