Netherlands to retire C-130Hs early
 

Janes reported on 16 October that the Netherlands Defence Minister has told parliament of plans to replace the KLu's 2 C-130Hs and 2 C130H-30s "as their readiness rates have become so poor as to hinder simultaneous operations" Replacement will be under a project to be implemented between 2021 and 2028 with first delivery of a replacement in 2026. The previous plan was 2030 on.

Any thoughts on a likely replacement? Is the C-130J too old a design now? So potentially A400M, Embraer C-390 or Kawasaki C-2? Are there any RAF surplus C-130Js left as a potential interim solution?

The proposed C-X project for C-130/C-17 replacement seems to have gone very quiet and clearly won't be available in the timeframe.

Given the small number required I think the A400M may well be too large and expensive . My money is on a 'scrappage' trade in to Lockheed for some nice new (or refurbished !) C130J.

Curious who, if anyone will want to purchase the retiring Hercs.

aa62 - the first thing that struck me was that as was said of the DC-3 the only thing that can replace a Hercules is another Hercules. The second was that whoever wrote the spec went through Lockheed's C-130J brochure and made sure it could meet or exceed everything.

WC - given the reason for the sale is serviceability I would suspect they are only saleable for spares recovery - as I'm sure you know - there are plenty of Hs still used around the world. Although I would think there is a market for refurbished 130s out there. However, probably not these as a believe the two "newest" Dutch ones were refurbished between 2006-9 by Marshalls in the UK. The airframes were ex-USN which had sent them to AMARC (as it then was) in 1991. The C130H-30s were ordered in 1993.

An interesting comparison was the Kiwi AF Herc program. They had five H models that were around 50 years old and they did some big upgrades including replacement of the wing centre sections and other areas but still got to a point where with such a small fleet they'd be lucky to have one or maybe two serviceable. The USAF has had a big H model refurb program including new props and cockpits but this was to carry a much deleted fleet through so they could acquire more J models. Other users such as Denmark and Norway rolled over to the J. It looks like Holland is just playing catch-up.

When the RAF retired the 'K' Austria and Sri Lanka bought a couple I think. One may even be an ex tanker ! Wonder if they are still flying.

ancientaviator62,

I think that they are and Marshalls still support them.

<Spotter Mode On>Sri Lankan Airforce website has them still operating with 2 Squadron. Previously they were XV 203 and XV213.
FlightGlobal listed the Austrian ones as active earlier this year, ex-XV181, 291 and 292. Interestingly, they also appear to have bought '295 for spares.<Spotter Mode Off>

The requirements seem to fit the C-130J rather well, even though they are rather vague at this point. I doubt they would go for another used fleet, though.

Then again, I could imagine the KLu buying 4 A400Ms and integrating them with the joint Belgian-Luxembourgian transport unit at Melsbroek. The Netherlands and Belgium are already collaborating closely in a number of different programs.

`203 and 213 were tankers....

I wonder why Sri Lanka bought an ex tanker ! A hard life for the six converted whilst in that role in the RAF. Perhaps they had a makeover before delivery.

Flew `213 to Cambridge on 30 March `96 ,`for scrapping`...no more tanking after that,only receiving.....

Dutch have gone for the Embraer C-390 as their C-130 replacement.

https://www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieu...c-130-hercules