The US Air Force has awarded Sierra Nevada Corporation $31.8 million to design and develop a post-production ski kit for the C-130J, moving the service closer to a ski-equipped LC-130J capability for polar operations. The work, to be carried out in Colorado Springs, Colorado, covers non-recurring engineering for a modification package that would convert a production C-130J into an aircraft able to operate from snow and ice.
The contract sits at an early engineering stage rather than a full production buy, with the Air Force funding analysis, design and development for the kit. It comes as the legacy LC-130H fleet used by the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing grows older, with the unit responsible for supporting Antarctic missions including Operation Deep Freeze.
The 109th Airlift Wing completed its 38th season on 11 March 2026, while a cited Senate statement in the coverage said only four of the 10 LC-130H aircraft were mission-capable at any given time. The contract’s scheduled completion date is 27 March 2028.