Lockheed Martin Italy Unveils C-130J with Latest Avionics

Taking another step towards bringing the C-130J into service with the Italian Air Force, the transport with several unique features was unveiled at a ceremony in Marietta, Georgia.

Italy so far has ordered 22 of the latest of Lockheed Martin's C-130 transports. What is unusual about the Italian configuration is the combined UHF/VHF multi-band radio and a laser warning receiver for threat detection. Furthermore, unlike the aircraft being delivered to the UK, Australia or the U.S., the Italian C-130Js have a "receiver-tanker" capability, which means they can refuel other aircraft in flight.

The roll-out of the first C-130J for Italy is to be followed soon by transfer of the aircraft to Pisa, Italy, where it will be operated by the 46th Air Brigade of the Italian Air Force. The rest of the 22 ordered aircraft are to be delivered over the next two years.

The C-130Js are part of Italy's airlift modernization program that includes the purchase of C-130Js, the stretched C-130J-30, and the C-27J that Alenia and Lockheed Martin are co-producing. Italy is buying 12 of the smaller C-27Js.

Besides the aircraft production, Lockheed Martin is under contract to build a national training center at the Pisa air base. It is intended to support the C-130J program through maintenance and aircraft training. However, the company said the facility could also support classroom training for other aircraft types.

By Robert Wall