C-130 Hercules sales and associated developments (not secret projects)

GTX

GTX

All hail the God of Frustration!!!
Staff member
Senior Member
Joined
15 April 2006
Messages
9,442
Reaction score
16,535
Website
beyondthesprues.com
A thread for the bird that just keeps going and going...a worthy successor to the DC-3/C-47 arguably.

Note this thread is not for experimental or secret projects but rather for those sales and other developments (e.g. in service upgrades).
 
When something works this well, it does make sense. Not as if the aircraft are shabby or fall down on the job, Airbus, cough.
 
Pioneer said:
GTX said:
Click to expand...
And yet, I also found this which states they're going to spend $70 million on upgrading the C-27J's.... :rolleyes:

defense-studies.blogspot.com

C-27J Spartan Fleet Set to Receive Avionics Upgrade

31 Oktober 2022 RAAF C-27J Spartan (photo : RAAF) The Australian Government has signed a Commonwealth Avionics Upgrade Acquisition Contract ...
defense-studies.blogspot.com defense-studies.blogspot.com

Regards
Pioneer
Click to expand...
Left hand not talking to right hand…
 
Pioneer said:
GTX said:
Click to expand...
And yet, I also found this which states they're going to spend $70 million on upgrading the C-27J's.... :rolleyes:

defense-studies.blogspot.com

C-27J Spartan Fleet Set to Receive Avionics Upgrade

31 Oktober 2022 RAAF C-27J Spartan (photo : RAAF) The Australian Government has signed a Commonwealth Avionics Upgrade Acquisition Contract ...
defense-studies.blogspot.com defense-studies.blogspot.com

Regards
Pioneer
Click to expand...

Different timelines, though. Crypto upgrades for the C-27 now through 2026. The first new C-130 deliveries not until at least 2030, meaning some C-27s could be around well beyond that.
 
24 Herks approved by Washington

WASHINGTON, November 2, 2022 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia of C-130J-30 aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $6.35 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
Click to expand...

Australia – C-130J-30 Aircraft | Defense Security Cooperation Agency

www.dsca.mil www.dsca.mil
 
www.defenceweb.co.za

SAAF evaluating offer of acquiring ex-US C-130H Hercules - defenceWeb

The United States has offered South Africa retired C-130H Hercules transport aircraft to replace its ageing C-130BZ fleet, with the South African Air Force (SAAF) presently considering the offer. Africa Intelligence reported that the United States is offering a dozen 1980s-era C-130H transports...
www.defenceweb.co.za www.defenceweb.co.za
 
The improved performance of NP2000 props on Naval Reserve C-130Ts are restoring their "KC-130T" aerial refueling capabilities for the latest generation of tactical aircraft.

theaviationist.com

NAWCAD Expands KC-130T Hercules’ Refueling Envelope with EA-18G Growler and CH-53K King Stallion

Following the adoption of the eight-bladed NP2000 propeller, the U.S. Navy launched an effort to regain the air refueling capability across its fleet and
theaviationist.com theaviationist.com

The U.S. Navy’s upgraded legacy KC-130T, which sports new eight-bladed NP-2000 propellers, is being put through testing to expand its aerial refueling envelope and is being certified to serve other aircraft in the Navy’s fleet. In fact, so far only the V-22 Osprey was cleared to be refueled by the upgraded C/KC-130T as it added aerial refueling to its mission sets.

Following the adoption of the eight-bladed NP2000 propeller, the U.S. Navy launched an effort to regain the air refueling capability across its fleet and allow the C/KC-130T to refuel a growing number of platforms.
Click to expand...

The upgrade effort was spurred after the Air Force and Navy C/KC-130s fleet began to adopt the more efficient eight-bladed NP2000 propeller developed by Collins Aerospace. Collins says that the NP2000’s composite blades and digital Electronic Propeller Control System (EPCS) offer a number of benefits compared to legacy systems, including a 20% thrust increase during take-off, a 20 db sound reduction in the cockpit, and a 50% reduction in maintenance man-hours. The system is also compatible with and already flies on many E-2 Hawkeyes and C-2 Greyhounds, along with the sub-variants of the KC-130 and C-130.
Click to expand...
 
Ozair said:
Feel like the solution should be to transfer some USAF Js to the USN Reserve. The USAF already has more than enough C-130s.
Click to expand...
Why? You do know that the different services do work together don't you? In fact there are good arguments for keeping all the same type in one service.
 
GTX said:
Why?
Click to expand...
Did you read the article? The USN wants Js because the Ts are clapped out and the J is more capable.

GTX said:
You do know that the different services do work together don't you?
Click to expand...
A strange question to ask especially in this context. Did you know that the USAF does not operate the KC-130J? Transferring Js to the USN that can be converted to KC would save the US taxpayer money. The USAF has stated they already have more C-130s than they need but Congress keeps buying more...

GTX said:
In fact there are good arguments for keeping all the same type in one service.
Click to expand...
The fleet sizes for the USAF for the H and J are about where they need to be for savings. The H fleet has mostly been upgraded with new propellors and with plenty of airframe life remaining it makes no economic or capability sense to churn them over for new Js.
 
My comments were not directed at the article but rather your comments
 
GTX said:
Why? You do know that the different services do work together don't you? In fact there are good arguments for keeping all the same type in one service.
Click to expand...

The USAF (273 as of March 2022) is not the sole operator of C-130Js... the USMC & USN combined has (65 as of March 2022), and the USCG has 15 (as of March 2022).

All 3 sets of numbers are larger now, I'm sure.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

Back
Top Bottom