SCHUMER, AFTER MONTHS OF ADVOCACY, SECURES $200+ MILLION IN SENATE DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL TO UPGRADE “SKI-BIRD” FLEET AT STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE – CLEARING FINAL HURDLE IN THE SENATE; SCHUMER SAYS WE ARE NOW THE CLOSEST WE HAVE EVER BEEN, CALLS ON HOUSE TO FOLLOW SUIT AND MATCH HIS FUNDING REQUEST IN THE FINAL BILL
After Visiting Stratton Air National Guard Base Earlier This Year, Schumer Reveals He Now Has Gotten The Senate Approps To Finally Fund The 109th Airlift Wing To Upgrade Ski-Bird Fleet; Senator Says Funding Must Be Allocated In Final, End-Of-Year Appropriations, Which Now Requires The House To Agree To This Measure Which Is Not Included In Their Bill Currently
Schumer: We Are The Closest We’ve Ever Been To Landing New Ski-Birds For The 109th Airlift Wing!
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that he secured $229 million in the Senate’s FY2025 defense appropriations bill to replace the 109th Airlift Wing’s (AW) two oldest LC-130H aircraft. The funding would help make possible the purchase of two LC-130Js, the newest ski-bird model, and officially set in motion the process to recapitalize the fleet.
For nearly a decade, Schumer has been tirelessly advocating to recapitalize the aging LC-130H fleet, which are the only ski-equipped heavy airlift aircraft capable of flying to the Arctic and Antarctica and are a vital component of supporting U.S. national security interests and scientific research in the Polar regions.
Schumer explained that with these planes quickly approaching the end of their service life—and following his successful efforts to authorize funding for the procurement of two new J model LC-130 aircraft in the Senate’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), securing this funding in the Senate defense appropriations bill is a massive step toward recapitalizing the LC-130H ski-bird fleet for the 109th Airlift Wing at Stratton Air Base. Specifically, the senator explained, the $229 million in the Senate bill will support the procurement of two LC-130J Ski-Birds, as well as essential engineering work to accelerate design and development of the J model’s capabilities. Now, Schumer is advocating for the House to match the Senate Defense Appropriations bill and support its inclusion in the final appropriations package.
“We are closer than ever before to upgrading Stratton Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing’s Ski-Bird fleet. I set the wheels in motion earlier this year and just landed $229 million in federal funding in the Senate version of the defense budget,” said Senator Schumer. “For more than thirty years, the old LC-130H planes have been in service in harsh environments, but their state of disrepair is now threatening aircrew safety and the ability to execute their mission. Recapitalizing these planes is critical to supporting the National Science Foundation’s polar research mission and maintaining U.S. presence and leadership in the Arctic and Antarctic against competitors like China and Russia. Now that we’ve secured funding in the Senate’s defense appropriations bill, we need the House to follow suit and match this funding. The brave men and woman of the 109th Airlift Wing and our national security cannot wait, it is time to bring these new Ski-Birds home to Schenectady County.”
Major General Ray Shields, Adjutant General of the New York National Guard, said, “Because of the efforts and support of Senator Schumer, the recapitalization of the 109th Airlift Wing’s aging LC-130H Ski-Birds will be a reality for Fiscal Year 2025. Senator Schumer is a staunch supporter of the 109th Airlift Wing’s Arctic and Antarctic polar programs and their impact on our National Defense Strategy, the recently released Arctic Strategy, and critical science conducted by the National Science Foundation. New LC-130J Ski-Birds will transform the capabilities of the 109th Airlift Wing and ensure that the men and women who fly this dangerous and critical mission have the very best aircraft possible. We thank Senator Schumer for his commitment to our service members and these polar missions which are vital to our national security.”
“Our LC-130H fleet is essential not only for our national security, but also for scientific and climate research,” Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20) said. “Despite the critical role these aircraft serve, a lack of federal support and aging equipment have decreased mission capabilities for New York’s Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing. I’m thrilled the Senate has included funding in their budget to ensure this fleet can continue its strategic presence in the Arctic and Antarctic. I’ll keep pushing hard in the House to get this funding across the finish line.”
Earlier this year, Schumer wrote to Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall to urge the Air Force to prioritize recapitalizing the LC-130H fleet and in April, he personally visited the 109th Airlift Wing—the only U.S. military unit in the world that flies these aircraft—in person to double down on the urgent need to recapitalize the LC-130H fleet and formally launch his push to secure federal funding for the procurement of two new LC-130Js in the FY25 appropriations cycle. As he explained during his visit, this funding is critical for protecting U.S. national security interests, enhancing U.S. competitiveness with Russia and the People’s Republic of China (PRC), maximizing aircrew safety, and continuing to support cutting-edge research in the polar regions which includes finding solutions to limit global warming and combat climate change. After previously securing authorization to fund the planes in the FY2025 NDAA, Schumer is continuing to fight for the inclusion of this funding in the final end-of-year appropriations bill.
“As I have repeatedly told the Air Force for nearly a decade, we need to ensure that we deliver new Ski-Birds for the 109th as soon as possible. Now that we’ve secured more than $200 million for LC-130H recapitalization in both the FY25 Senate NDAA and defense appropriations bill, I’ll keep fighting tooth and nail for the inclusion of this funding in end-of-year appropriations so that new planes can land in the Capital Region,” added Schumer.
Schumer explained that after more than 30 years, these planes—several of which were built in the 1970s and operate on technology developed in the 1950s—are rapidly approaching the end of their service life, jeopardizing mission success, aircrew and operator safety, and U.S. national security. Schumer said the airplanes often suffer reliability issues and high maintenance costs, with only five planes out of the ten total in the fleet being mission capable at any given time. Additionally, nearly all of the aircraft in the fleet have parts that require total replacement, but the 109th AW is unable to make the necessary fixes because those parts are no longer in production due to the aircraft’s age and commodity. With both U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), which oversees the polar airlift mission, and 109th AW, which supports the NSF’s polar science research missions and is the only U.S. military unit in the world that flies these planes, expressing the urgent need to recapitalize, Schumer took action to push for this major federal funding and upgrade the fleet to support U.S. national security and scientific research.
The LC-130 is also a necessity for maintaining and strengthening the United States’ presence, operations, and research in the Arctic and Antarctica. The Arctic is a region of growing strategic importance, and to compete on a global scale, especially with China and Russia who are expanding their presence in the region, it is vital that the U.S. has the advanced capabilities needed to expand its presence in the region.
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