Australia set to buy 24 C-130J Super Hercules
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Australia set to buy 24 C-130J Super Hercules
Australia has moved a step closer to a major renewal of its strategic airlift capabilities with the U.S. State Department’s approval of the possible sale of two dozen C-130J Super Hercules, worth up to $6.35 billion.
The U.S. State Department on Wednesday cleared possible foreign military sale of 24 Super Hercules aircraft to Australia, according to a statement from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
“Australian Air Force (RAAF) with replacements for its aging cargo fleet, guaranteeing a reliable airlift capability, and allowing the RAAF to improve its overall operational capability,” DSCA’s notice regarding the proposed deal says. “Australia will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”
In addition, its notice says that the principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin Corporation, Marietta, GA. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
The C-130J is the latest addition to the C-130 fleet and has replaced aging C-130Es and some of the high time C-130Hs. The C-130J incorporates state-of-the-art technology, which reduces manpower requirements, lowers operating and support costs, and provides life-cycle cost savings over earlier C-130 models.
The C-130J-30 is a stretch version, adding 15 feet to the fuselage, increasing usable space in the cargo compartment.
The U.S. State Department on Wednesday cleared possible foreign military sale of 24 Super Hercules aircraft to Australia, according to a statement from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
“Australian Air Force (RAAF) with replacements for its aging cargo fleet, guaranteeing a reliable airlift capability, and allowing the RAAF to improve its overall operational capability,” DSCA’s notice regarding the proposed deal says. “Australia will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”
In addition, its notice says that the principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin Corporation, Marietta, GA. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
The C-130J is the latest addition to the C-130 fleet and has replaced aging C-130Es and some of the high time C-130Hs. The C-130J incorporates state-of-the-art technology, which reduces manpower requirements, lowers operating and support costs, and provides life-cycle cost savings over earlier C-130 models.
The C-130J-30 is a stretch version, adding 15 feet to the fuselage, increasing usable space in the cargo compartment.
Any chance that the sad Royal Air Force - or the even sadder UK Ministry of Defence - could look on this excellent purchase, and learn something?
No, I thought not....
airsound
No, I thought not....
airsound
posted in another thread there talk the RNZAF guys who currently in europe supporting the herc they have there supporting Ukraine spent some time crawling over the RAF aircraft for sale. RNAF flys 5 hercs from the late 60's.
Why on earth would they be looking at second hand ones when they have brand new C-130J-30's ordered with deliveries starting next year?
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Why, oh why, is the RAF doing this? https://assets.publishing.service.go...ochure_34_.pdf
Excellent reason for the buy right there in yer thread starter article:
“…Australia will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces…”
We already have C-130j's, we have trained pilots, trained ground crew, spare parts, simulators, maintainance contracts. If you dont have C-130's I think the KC-390 is a very interesting possibility, but C-130 for C-130 is a bit of a no brainer
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And the RAF’s sales catalogue listed above for the Herc actually states all the reasons why we shouldn’t be getting rid of them, the old adage “the only replacement for a Herc is another Herc” rings true.
Quite frankly, that sales catalogue makes depressing reading. This entire episode is - purely in my opinion, of course - a complete and utter disaster and a total, unmitigated failure in Government procurement, RAF senior leadership and the entire military decision making process. Dark days for RAF Tac AT are here.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Nutty, Your comment “the only replacement for a Herc is another Herc” is one I've used so many times I'm getting reluctant to use it. Agree totally. According to that sales brochure, we should be getting more of them.
There is no money - it was spent on the A400's, the Voyagers etc
hell we still haven't ordered a full buy of F-35's.
hell we still haven't ordered a full buy of F-35's.
Blog writer can't even cut and paste correctly. The actual quote from DSCA begins: The proposed sale will improve Australia’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing the Royal ....which is why the abbreviation for our air force starts with an R.
