The C-130J: New Hercules & Old Bottlenecks

The C-130J program has been the focus of a great deal of controversy – and recently, of a full program restructuring.

As a number of the C-130J's faster-moving foreign customers band together to create a common upgrade set for their serving fleets, the plane officially reached "initial operating capability" for the US military late in 2006.

Australia, Britain, Denmark, and Italy were all ahead of that curve, and have been operating the privately-developed C-130J for several years now.

India and Norway recently moved to join the global C-130J customer base, and with the US tactical transport fleet flying old aircraft and in dire need of major repairs,

C-130J purchases are taking place under both annual budgets and supplemental wartime funding. A number of variants are currently flying in transport (C-130J), stretched transport (C-130J-30), aerial broadcaster (EC-130J), coast guard patrol (HC-130J), aerial tanker (KC-130J), and even hurricane hunter weather aircraft (WC-130J).

The privately-developed C-130J has demonstrated in-theater performance on the front lines that represents a major improvement over its C-130E/H predecessors – but does it break the key limitations that have hobbled a number of US Army programs?

This DID FOCUS Article describes the C-130J, examines that issue, makes note of present and emerging competitors, and covers global developments for the C-130J program. The latest news include an Italian support contract, a Q&A with the UK's Parliamentary Defence Committee, and some recent statistics for KC-130 aerial tanker aircraft in theater…

Source : DID