Sun, Apr 25, 2010
New Model To Replace Older HC And MC 130's
The first of a new fleet of HC-130J combat rescue tankers for
the U.S. Air Force's Air Combat Command (ACC) was unveiled by
Lockheed Martin during a ceremony in Marietta, GA Monday. Lockheed
Martin is contracted with the U.S. Air Force to build 21 C130J
Super Hercules to replace aging fleets of combat search and rescue
HC-130s and special operations MC130s. The U.S. Air Force is
authorized to acquire up to 31 HC/MC130Js (11 HCs and 20 MCs).
Lockheed Martin Photo
"Personnel recovery is one of the Air Force's core missions and
vital to what we do in defense of America," said Maj. Gen. Thomas
K. Andersen, director of requirements, Headquarters ACC. "The
mission is demanding and we are grateful to those [employees] of
Lockheed Martin assembled here that have given us a world-class
aircraft ready for the demands of the mission," he continued. "The
HC-130J will enable us to meet the expanding operational tasks that
we face today - wartime operations in Operation Enduring Freedom
and the Horn of Africa, and relief operations in the continental
United States as well as in areas like Haiti and Chile. For that,
ACC, the Air Force and the nation thank you."
"Yet again, we see the C-130 setting new standards for mission
flexibility," said Ross Reynolds, Lockheed Martin vice president
for C-130 programs. "This new configuration of the proven C-130J
will give ACC unparalleled capability for combat search and rescue.
As demand for the C-130J continues to grow around the world, we
will see more ways this aircraft can meet the demands of any
operator and mission."
The new aircraft, which is based on a KC-130J tanker baseline,
will have the Enhanced Service Life Wing, Enhanced Cargo Handling
System, a Universal Aerial Refueling Receptacle Slipway
Installation (boom refueling receptacle), an
electro-optical/infrared sensor, a combat systems operator station
on the flight deck, and provisions for the large aircraft infrared
countermeasures system. In-line production of this configuration
reduces cost and risk, and meets the required 2012 initial
operational capability.
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