Air-Attack.com - C-130J Super Hercules

Designed specifically as a multi-role, multi-mission aircraft, the C-130J is equally at home for both tactical and a large range of strategic missions. Similar in appearance to earlier models of the Hercules, the C-130J is virtually an all-new aircraft. Major improvements include a state-of-the-art, computer-controlled digital flight deck.

Cockpit

The flightdeck features two head-up displays (HUDs), four large multi-function displays, five monochrome displays and fighter-style controls on the control columns. This glass cockpit technology also includes an automatic flight control system, autothrottle, head down display, traffic collision avoidance system, ground collision avoidance system and a stick pusher to prevent inadvertent aircraft stall. Integrated navigation equipment provides the pilots with an automatic navigation solution from the inertial navigation system and global positioning system as well as regular ground-based navigation aids.
This increase in automated control has allowed the minimum crew to be reduced from five in the C-130H to just three (two pilots and a loadmaster) in the J, removing the requirement for a Flight Engineer and Navigator.

Engines

New, more powerful, digitally-controlled Rolls-Royce engines, fitted with Dowty Aerospace advanced technology six-bladed composite propellers, enable the C-130J to fly much further, faster and higher than previous models. The C-130J is also the world’s first military transport aircraft to have a head-up display certified as the primary flight instrument for all stages of flight.

With proven military durability and reliability, the C-130J is at least 15% more fuel-efficient than previous models. In addition, improved technologies drastically reduce the requirements for maintenance and logistic support. The substantially lower through-life costs of owning and operating the C-130J make it the natural choice for any air force demanding an affordable multi-role transport capability.

Operators

Air forces currently operating the C-130J are the Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, the Italian Air Force, the Royal Danish Air Force, the United States Air Force, the United States Air National Guard and Reserve, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Marine Corps.

RAF

The RAF, as lead customer for the new aircraft, has taken delivery of twenty-five C-130Js. The first was delivered to RAF Lyneham in November 1999. The last was delivered on 21st June 2001. Two variants were ordered: 10 standard C-130J aircraft; and 15 ‘stretched’ C-130J-30s. The latter are 180 inches longer and have an increased load carrying volume within a comfortable payload of over 40,000lbs. The RAF trains its C-130J crews in a purpose-built school house, which was also supplied by Lockheed Martin. This contains two full motion dynamic mission simulators. Since entering service, the RAF's C-130Js have been used in a variety of operational missions including action in the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq.

British industry participation in the world-wide C-130J programme is substantial. The supply chain for C-130J regularly extends to some 150 UK companies, contributions to the programme being made from all sectors of the aerospace industry from SME’s to the largest multi-nationals. UK-owned companies provide over 20% of the value of each C-130J that rolls off the production line. The UK C-130J Industrial Participation programme has to date provided approximately £1billion of business to UK Aerospace and Defence contractors, supporting in excess of 18,000 man years of employment.

Collectively, the UK industrial team is known as the UK C-130J Industrial Support Group and includes companies such as Rolls-Royce (engines), GKN Westland Aerospace (engine nacelles), Goodrich (digital engine controls) and Smiths Aerospace, including Dowty Propellers (power generation and distribution propellers). Over £740M in C-130J-related business has been placed directly with Lockheed Martin' s British industrial partners and suppliers to date. Further sales will increase this figure.

Other air forces currently operating the C-130J are the Royal Australian Air Force, the Italian Air Force, the Royal Danish Air Force, the United States Air Force, the United States Air National Guard and Reserve, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Marine Corps. To date, 180 aircraft have been ordered and over 120 delivered. The market forecast for additional worldwide C-130J sales over the next 20 years is in excess of 300 aircraft.

RAAF

The Lockheed C-130J entered service with the Royal Australian Air Force in 1999, replacing the ageing C-30E fleet that had served since 1966. Operated by No. 37 Squadron at RAAF Richmond, approximately 50 kms north-west of Sydney, the C-130J is the most comprehensive update of the Hercules aircraft with a new two-crew flight compartment and turbo-prop engines that drive six-blade propellers. The RAAF currently operates 12 C-130J's.

USAF

In 2001, the US Air Force contracted Boeing to upgrade hundreds of its C-130E and C-130H aircraft under the Avionics Modernization Program (AMP). Besides upgrading the E and H versions, the Air Force planned to acquire up to 168 newer, more-capable C-130J Super Hercules aircraft to fill out the ranks of its tactical airlift inventory.
Since then, however, the combat experiences of Afghanistan and Iraq have modified the Air Force's thinking, as have shifting budget priorities. The service now wants a smaller sized intra-theater cargo hauler, dubbed the Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA), to support troops in austere forward areas as a complement to the Hercules fleet. It is working with the Army to acquire this aircraft jointly. Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley said the Air Force could buy between 100 and 150 of them, according to Defense Daily. Additionally, the projected size of the C-130J fleet has shrunk to just 79 aircraft. This may grow somewhat, however, since the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is beginning to express an interest in acquiring the aircraft instead of upgrading older C-130s, according to the senior officials.

C-130J offered for Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA)

In June 2006, Lockheed Martin offered the short-fuselage variant of the C-130J for the Joint Cargo Aircraft Program.
"Our C-130J solution meets or exceeds all JCA performance requirements and provides a solid cornerstone for the transformation of the Army’s fixed wing fleet,” said Rob Weiss, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics vice president for business development.

Specifications & Performance problems

In late July, 2004, the Pentagon's inspector general issued a 34-page report that substantiated the allegation that the C-130J aircraft does not meet contract specifications and therefore cannot perform its operational mission. Because the Air Force has already payed more than 99% of the aircraft's contracted delivery price, the Government fielded C-130J aircraft that cannot perform their intended mission, which forces the users to incur additional operations and maintenance costs to operate and maintain older C-130 mission-capable aircraft because the C-130J aircraft can be used only for training.

The Pentagon plans to save more than $5 billion by ending the C-130J program in fiscal 2007 and scrapping the purchase of 63 aircraft that was planned through 2011. The FY 2006 budget proposed to end production of the Air Force's C-130J at 53, rather than the 168 originally projected. At $66.5 million, Secretary Rumsfeld said that the aircraft had become increasingly expensive to build and to maintain, especially given the ability to modernize existing C-130s. An Air Force report to Rumsfeld concluded that it would cost nearly as much to cancel the commercial contract - about $1.78 billion - as it would to complete it. That finding prompted Rumsfeld to reverse course, according to The Washington Post.
In June 2006, it became apparent that Defense Secretary Rumsfeld relied on faulty data when he saved the C-130J Hercules from cancellation the year before. According to a report by the Pentagon inspector general a poorly written contract it to blame for the for keeping the transport plane alive. The new report said the Air Force may have overstated the cost of canceling the contract by as much as $1.1 billion, the Washington Post reported.
The program has also been under scrutiny because the Air Force is buying the planes with a commercial contract, which does not require Lockheed to provide complete pricing and cost data, including its profit margin. Afterfacing criticism from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the Air Force said it would restructure the contract.

C-130J Turned down for Joint Cargo Aircraft Program

The U.S. Army, which along with the Air Force, is seeking a new fleet of intra-theater lift aircraft, has told Lockheed Martin that its C-130J airplane cannot compete because it “failed to meet the Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] certification,” according to a July 28 letter to the company from Carole Hubbard, the Army’s contracting officer.
On August 14, Lockheed announced it had filed a formal protest with the federal government over the U.S. Army's decision to disqualify its C-130J cargo plane. "We strongly contest the Army's decision," said Peter Simmons, spokesman for the Bethesda, Maryland,-based company.

He said the company submitted a protest with the Government Accountability Office, arguing that the Army decision disregarded Air Force requirements for the joint program. It asked for any contact award to be postponed until the protest was settled. (Reuters)

Recent developments:

Oct. 8th, 2008 | Lockheed Receives Contract For Four C-130J Aircraft For Qatar

MARIETTA, Ga., October 7th, 2008 -- The State of Qatar has signed a $393.6 million contract with Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] for the purchase of four C-130J Super Hercules airlifters plus training and spares with deliveries to begin in 2011. Qatar's new C-130Js will be the longer fuselage or "stretched" variant of the C-130J. Since this is Qatar's first experience with C-130s, the package being provided by Lockheed Martin is a complete solution. The package includes four aircraft, training of...
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Sep. 5th, 2008 | Boeing's C-130 AMP Flight Marks Completion of Software Development

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 05, 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] announced today that it has completed software development for its C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP). The milestone was achieved following the successful flight test of aircraft AMP 2 (H2.5), conducted by Boeing and the U.S. Air Force on Aug. 18. During the 1.6-hour flight from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., the combined Boeing/Air Force crew tested the functionality of Core Complete 2.2. "This is a great day for the AMP te...
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Jul. 15th, 2008 | New C-130J Configurations And Technologies Unveiled At Farnborough

FARNBOROUGH, England, July 15th, 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] officials briefed reporters today at the Farnborough Air Show about new configurations and new technologies for the C‑130J Super Hercules. Attendees where given insight into the new HC-130J and MC-130J configurations, recently selected by the U.S. Air Force to replace the aging fleets of both Air Combat Command and Special Operations Command aircraft. Additionally, three new technologies related to mission planning, mappi...
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Jul. 8th, 2008 | Air Force, Boeing officials upgrade C-130 cockpits

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) -- Members of the 418th Flight Test Squadron here working with Boeing officials are currently conducting communication, navigation, radar and air data testing on two C-130 Hercules aircraft here as part of the Avionics Modernization Program. The Avionics Modernization Program, or AMP, upgrade includes replacement of the aircraft's 1960s-era instruments and indicators with a modernized glass cockpit consisting of flat panel displays, heads-up displays and...
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Mar. 13th, 2008 | First Active Duty USAF C-130J Combat Squadron Receives New Aircraft

MARIETTA, Ga., March 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has delivered a sixth C-130J Super Hercules to the 41st Airlift Squadron, a unit of the 463rd Airlift Group, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The 41st, also known as the "Black Cats," is the first active-duty C-130J combat squadron in the Air Force. Brig. Gen. Mark S. Solo, Deputy Director, Air, Space and Information Operations, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., accepted the new C-130J ...
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