Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules: Difference between revisions
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The '''[[Lockheed Martin]] C- |
The '''[[Lockheed Martin]] C-130Gay Super Hercules''' is an [[United States|American]] four-engine [[turboprop]] [[military transport aircraft]]. The C-130Gay is a comprehensive update of the venerable [[Lockheed]] [[C-130 Hercules]], with gayer engines, cockpit, and other systems. The Hercules family has the longest continuous production run of any military aircraft in history. During more than 50 years of service the family has participated in military, civilian and [[humanitarian aid]] operations. The Hercules has also outlived several planned successor designs, most notably the [[Advanced Medium STOL Transport]] contestants. |
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==Design and development== |
==Design and development== |
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Revision as of 12:10, 24 July 2008
The Lockheed Martin C-130Gay Super Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. The C-130Gay is a comprehensive update of the venerable Lockheed C-130 Hercules, with gayer engines, cockpit, and other systems. The Hercules family has the longest continuous production run of any military aircraft in history. During more than 50 years of service the family has participated in military, civilian and humanitarian aid operations. The Hercules has also outlived several planned successor designs, most notably the Advanced Medium STOL Transport contestants.
Design and development
The C-130J "Super" Hercules is the newest version of the Hercules and the only model still in production. Externally similar to the classic Hercules in general appearance, the J model is a very different aircraft. These differences include new Rolls-Royce AE 2100 turboprops with six-bladed composite scimitar propellers, digital avionics (including Head-Up Displays (HUDs) for each pilot), reduced crew requirements (2 pilots — no navigator or flight engineer), increased reliability and up to 27% lower operating costs. The C-130J is available in a standard-length or stretched -30 variant. Lockheed Martin received the launch order for the J from the RAF, who ordered 25 aircraft, with first deliveries beginning in 1999 as Hercules C. Mk 4 (C-130J-30) and Hercules C. Mk 5 (C-130J).
Operational history
The largest operator of the new model will be the USAF, who are ordering the aircraft in increasing numbers, although as of 2005 Congress announced C-130J acquisition would be dramatically cut.[citation needed] Current operators of the C-130J are the USAF, United States Marine Corps (KC-130J tanker), U.S. Air National Guard, United States Coast Guard, Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Danish Air Force and the Italian Air Force. Total procurement of C-130J aircraft has reached 186 orders as of December 2006.[1]
Lockheed Martin has offered to lease four C-130Js to the German Luftwaffe, which has been awaiting a Transall replacement set for 2010 (the Airbus A400M), but the deal was rejected.
The Indian Air Force has submitted a request for the purchase of six C-130J aircraft. The sale was completed in early 2008 at a cost of US$ 1.059 billion.[2] It is a package deal with the US government under its Foreign Military Sales Program (FMS), and India has retained options to buy six more of these aircraft for its special forces for combined army-air force operations.[3]
The Canadian Forces signed a US$1.4 billion contract with Lockheed Martin for 17 new C-130J-30s on January 16, 2008, as part of the procurement process to replace the existing CC-130E and H models.[4] The C-130J will be officially designated CC-130J Hercules in Canadian Forces service.[5]
The Royal Norwegian Air Force has decided to purchase four C-130Js to reinforce their transport capacity when it was discovered that their forty-year-old C-130s were unserviceable during a wing change.[6]
The US Air Force awarded a $470 million contract to Lockheed Martin for six modified KC-130J aircraft for special forces use in mid-June 2008. The contract is expected to lead to replacements for aging HC-130s and MC-130s.[7]
Variants
- C-130J
- Tactical airlifter
- C-130J-30
- Variant with 15ft longer fuselage.
- KC-130J
- United States Marine Corps aerial refueling tanker and tactical airlifter
- WC-130J
- weather reconnaissance ("Hurricane Hunter") version for US Air Force Air Force Reserve Command
- CC-130J Hercules
- Canadian Forces designation for the C-130J
- Hercules C4
- RAF designation for the C-130J-30
- Hercules C5
- RAF designation for the C-130J
Operators
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- Canadian Forces Air Command - 17 to be delivered starting in 2010
- Danish Air Force - 4
- Indian Air Force - 6 to be delivered starting in 2011
- Italian Air Force - 24 (6 KC-130J kit)[8]
- Royal Norwegian Air Force - 6x C-130H replaced by 4x C-130J (fall 2008)
- Royal Air Force - 25[9]
- United States Air Force - 65 (32 active duty, 22 Air National Guard, 11 Air Force Reserve)[10]
- United States Coast Guard - 6
- United States Marine Corps - 29 KC-130J
Specifications (C-130J)
Data from USAF C-130 Hercules fact sheet[11] The International Directory of Military Aircraft, 2002-2003 [12]
General characteristics
- Crew: 4-6 (at least 2 pilots, crew chief, and 1 loadmaster; additional loadmaster and navigator are usually part of the crew)
- Capacity:
- 92 passengers or
- 64 airborne troops or
- 74 litter patients with 2 medical personnel
Performance
See also
Related development
- C-130 Hercules
- Lockheed AC-130
- Lockheed DC-130
- Lockheed EC-130
- Lockheed HC-130
- Lockheed LC-130
- Lockheed MC-130
- Lockheed WC-130
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
- List of active United Kingdom military aircraft
- List of active United States military aircraft
- List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force
- List of C-130 Hercules crashes
References
- ^ "News Breaks", Aviation Week & Space Technology, 18 December 2006.
- ^ Defence Security Cooperation Agency (News Release)
- ^ "India signs agreement for Hercules aircraft". Indian Defense Research Wing. February 6, 2008.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Flight International - Canada signs $1.4bn contract for 17 Lockheed Martin C-130Js". Retrieved 2008-01-17.
- ^ "Public Works and Government Services Canada - PWGSC announces next step in procuring tactical airlift fleet". Retrieved 2007-08-08.
- ^ Contract for new transport planes signed Norwegian Defence Force website
- ^ Trimble, Stephen. "Lockheed Martin C-130J selected for new special operations role", Flightglobal.com, 18 June 2008.
- ^ "KC-130J at deagel.com".
- ^ "Lockheed Martin Completes C-130J Deliveries for 2001". Lockheed Martin UK. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
- ^ Craig Hoyle, Lockheed Martin delivers 100th C-130J for US customer. May 1, 2008. Retrieved on May 2, 2008.
- ^ "USAF C-130 Hercules fact sheet". 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-22.
- ^ Frawley, Gerard (2002). The International Directory of Military Aircraft, 2002-2003. Fyshwick, ACT, Australia: Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd. p. 108. ISBN 1-875671-55-2.
External links
