Lockheed Delivers C-130J-30 Stretch,
It'll Handle More Troops, More Cargo

Lockheed Martin has just celebrated the first delivery of a C-130J-30 stretched Hercules to the U.S. Air Force, specifically the 143rd Airlift Wing, which is the Air National Guard Unit based at Quonset State Airport in Rhode Island.

The J­30 Hercules can carry 128 combat troops instead of a standard C-130J's 92, and 92 paratroops instead of 64. It can carry eight standard 463L pallets rather than six, 97 medical litters instead of 74, and 24 CDS (container delivery system) bundles instead of 16.

The J-30 is capable of un-refueled flights of 4,000 miles. A close formation of 31 C-130J-30s will be able to drop 2,800 troops-an entire Army brigade-in less than five minutes.

The Rhode Island aircraft are the first stretched C-130Js to be equipped with a computer-controlled Enhanced Cargo Handling System allowing "precise airdrop event sequencing and quick conversion from cargo floor tie-downs to rollers for palletized cargo." The 143rd Airlift Wing is replacing all nine of its '60s-vintage C-130Es, the company says.

Worldwide, 111 C-130Js and J-30s have been ordered. Non-U.S. takers include Australia, the UK, Italy and Denmark.

New C-130Js are equipped with the Block 5.3 avionics enhancement allowing integrated precision radar approaches, fully automatic formation flying and enhanced navigation capabilities. The enhancements are being installed in existing operational aircraft as well.

The C-130J is distinguished in appearance by its six-bladed, all-composite Dowty Aerospace R391 propellers. They're driven by four Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 engines. The new airplane is 21% faster than the C-130E, and requires just half the climb time to altitude. Cruising altitude is 40% higher, Lockheed Martin says, and range is 40% greater.

The company said late last year that it delivered the seventh and final KC-130J for 2001 to the U. S. Marine Corps, which stations the tankers at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina.

Lockheed Martin has also sold 10 refurbished C-130H Hercules to Brazil. They were formerly operated by the Italian Air Force, and traded back to Lockheed as part of Italy's purchase of 22 new C-130Js and C-130J-30s.

By Rich Piellisch