Lockheed Martin has delivered the first C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft to the Indian air force. India had signed a contract for 6 C-130J Super Hercules aircrafts with an option for another 6 to be decided later on.
IAF’s C-130J Super Hercules will be displayed in the Aero India air show next year. India is likely to use the option for six additional C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft. IAF’s second Super Hercules will be delivered in February next year while remaining aircrafts will arrive in India later part of next year.
DSCA sent the notice for the FMS of six C-130J transporters at cost of $1,059 million to the IAF in may 2007. Indian air force will use these aircrafts for the airdrops the equipment and troops while flying at very low altitude in all weather conditions.
Indian C-130J "Super" Hercules will lack some sensitive equipment because of the dispute between India and USA over the CISMOA. USA also plans to sell atleast 126 MMRCA aircrafts to the Indian air force. US companies are pushing their F-16 IN block 70 and F/A-18 E/F for the MMRCA contract to be decided next year.
C-130J Super Hercules is the advance version of the C-130 Hercules in service with the Pakistan Air Force. C-130J Super Hercules has a glass cockpit and new six-bladed propeller powered by the Rolls Royce AE 2100D3 engines. Compared to the Pakistani C-130 Hercules, Indian C-130J will have greater range, payload capacity and higher speed.
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