Lockheed in Talks With 3 Countries To Sell 'Sea Hercs'
PARIS — Lockheed Martin is in talks with the UK, Canada and a Nordic nation to sell its new maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) version of the C-130J, and is due to enter talks to sell a coast guard version of the aircraft to Algeria.
“We will invite them to enter a dialogue for common requirements,” said Jack Crisler, Lockheed Martin’s vice president of new business on C-130 programs, during a presentation at the Paris Air Show on the SC-130J “Sea Herc.” The UK is one of the parties, and although Lockheed Martin has not named them, Canada and a Nordic nation are understood to be the other two.
Lockheed Martin envisions launching the Sea Herc in a basic, coast guard format, a second version adding air-to-surface warfare capabilities and a third version that adds ASW capabilities. The three interested nations would take the third version, Crisler said.
Crisler said he foresaw a market of 50-60 aircraft, based on a calculation of nations that operate the P-3 Orion but had yet to order mid-life upgrades for their aircraft, as Australia and New Zealand have............