Mexican Politicians Love The C-130J

Mexico is buying two C-130J transports from the United States. Mexico already operates four older C-130s (E and L models). Including support, training, and spare parts (including two engines) the C-130J deal will cost $412 million. These two new transports will primarily be used for "presidential support." That apparently means helping politicians to move around, with a secondary role of helping with the war against the drug cartels, if there is a serious emergency.

The C-130 continues to thrive after over half a century because they are a reliable and inexpensive way to move cargo and personnel to improvised airfields. The C-130J transport proved to be more than just another model in the fifty year old C-130 design. This is mainly because it's cheaper and easier to use. Like most new commercial transports, the C-130J emphasizes saving money. The new engines generate 29 percent more thrust while using 15 percent less fuel. Increased automation reduced crew size from four to three. The rear ramp door can now be opened in flight when the aircraft is going as fast as 450 kilometers an hour, versus the current 270 kilometers an hour.

The C-130J is more reliable and easier to maintain. So far, C-130Js have cost nearly twenty percent less per hour than previous models. The current 70 ton MC-130H (there are several MC-130 models) has a crew of seven, a cruise speed of 480 kilometers an hour, and unrefueled range of 4,300 kilometers. This version can carry 77 passengers, or 52 paratroopers, or 57 litter patients and 18 tons of cargo or specialized containers outfitted with business jet amenities.

The most common version of the C-130 still in service is the C-130H. It has a range of 8,368 kilometers, a top speed of 601 kilometers per hour, and can carry up to 18 tons of cargo, 92 troops, or 64 paratroopers. The latest version, the C-130J, has a top speed of 644 kilometers, 40 percent more range than the C-130H, and can carry 20 tons of cargo. The stretched C-130J-30 can carry more bulky cargo and goes for about $100 million each. The C-130 has flown for over 50 countries since the late 1950s.

Atlas - New planes with an extra lift

Pilots Aircraft: Malaysian Air Force No. 2 impressed with the A400M Atlas, which will start service in 2015

Deputy Royal Malaysian Air Force chief Lt Gen Datuk Roslan Saad (left) giving the thumbs up to the A400M Atlas after a test flight in France yesterday. With him is Ed Strongman, Airbus Military chief test pilot.

Deputy Royal Malaysian Air Force chief Lt-Gen Datuk Roslan Saad recently tested the nation's next-generation transport aircraft in France.

Following the test flight, which took place in Toulouse, the country's second highest ranking military pilot gave the thumbs up to the Airbus Military A400M airlifter, which was recently given the codename Atlas.

"It is an enormous pleasure to fly the aircraft that is going to be at the heart of the RMAF's transport capabilities in the future.

"It is a real 'pilot's aircraft' and I look forward to seeing it enter service so that we can apply its capabilities on a wide variety of missions," said Roslan.

The government is expected to take delivery of the first aircraft in January 2015.

The agreement to buy the A400Ms was first highlighted in December 2005. A few days later, a memorandum of understanding for the procurement of four aircraft for the RMAF was signed between the government and Airbus Military.

The negotiations also centred on making the Malaysian aerospace industry a partner in the A400M programme.

Along with the deal for the aircraft, Airbus Military also signed a RM907 million agreement in designing and manufacturing composite A400M airframe parts with Composites Technologies Research Sdn Bhd.

Larger than the C-130 Hercules transport plane, which is currently used by the RMAF, the A400M was purchased to boost the RMAF's capabilities to transport cargo and troops. It has a length of 43.8m with a wingspan of 42.4m and a height of 14.6m.

It is a multi-role military tactical airlifter built to compete with other aircraft companies in replacing the ageing fleets of Hercules and C-160 Transall planes in air forces around the world.

With a payload of 37 tonnes, the A400M can carry twice the load of the Hercules. It is capable of conducting strategic operations, tactical missions and delivering fuel.

The aircraft has a high-flotation landing gear which allows take-offs and landings on short, unpaved airfields. This is crucial in battlefield conditions where the aircraft can land on semi-prepared airstrips with less than 1km of runway.

A total of 174 aircraft had been ordered by Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

The aircraft programme, however, had been plagued by problems that caused customers to receive their planes late. The RMAF was supposed to take delivery of its first plane next year.

U.S. Coast Guard To Acquire Three Additional Lockheed Martin HC-130J Surveillance Aircraft

Lockheed Martin received a $218 million contract for three additional HC-130Js for the U.S. Coast Guard. This will increase the U.S. Coast Guard fleet of HC-130Js from six to nine. The contract also includes funding for two mission suites, which are critical in supporting U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue operations. The new aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in early 2015.

“The Coast Guard, like many services in the Hercules family, continues to recapitalize with the C-130J,” said Jack Crisler, Lockheed Martin vice president for Air Mobility. “The C-130J is without equal in terms of its multi-role, multi-mission flexibility and availability. No aircraft in production — or in development — can match the capabilities of the Super Hercules.”

                         

Lockheed Martin received a $218 million contract for three additional HC-130Js for the U.S. Coast Guard. This will increase the U.S. Coast Guard fleet of HC-130Js from six to nine. The contract also includes funding for two mission suites, which are critical in supporting U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue operations. The new aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in early 2015.

 A C-130-H (top) displaying an historic color scheme to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the C-130 in Coast Guard Service, flies in formation with a new HC-130J (bottom).

                         

The current fleet of HC-130Js, based at Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., meets long-range maritime patrol requirements in areas that cannot be patrolled efficiently by medium range surveillance aircraft or cutters. The Long Range Surveillance (LRS) aircraft also provide heavy air transport for maritime safety and security teams, port security units, and National Strike Force personnel and equipment.

The HC-130J’s special mission suite is comprised of a two mission system operator station located behind the pilot and co-pilot, a belly-mounted 360-degree long range search radar, nose-mounted forward looking infrared radar and an advanced mission communications suite. The missionized HC-130J is designed to deliver enhanced search, detection and tracking capabilities.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 120,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation's net sales for 2011 were $46.5 billion.

Taiwan's transport planes can be refitted as tanker aircraft

Of Taiwan's military aircraft, the C-130 transport plane can be refitted as a tanker aircraft, which can beef up the country's air defenses in the event of war, military officials said recently.

Although the Air Force has no tanker aircraft, the C-130 is spacious enough to be turned into a tanker aircraft if it is equipped with refueling equipment such as oil tanks and hoses, the officials told CNA.

"Tanker aircraft can double the in-flight operating time for combat aircraft," they said, adding that the country's warplanes can remain airborne for only two hours at most without refueling.

Among Taiwan's main combat aircraft, the U.S.-made F-16 A/B jet fighters and Mirage 2000-5s from France can both be refueled in the air, the officials added.

Meanwhile, "our military pilots -- who have been trained in the United States or France on how to operate the F-16 and the Mirage 2000-5s -- know how to refuel in the air," according to the officials.

The issue of tanker aircraft, however, is a sensitive one. With such planes, the F-16s and the Mirage 2000-5s would be seen as attack aircraft rather than defense ones.

Due to this sensitivity, which could spark concerns among neighboring countries such as China and Japan, it is unlikely Taiwan will be able to acquire such equipment from the United States, the country's main arms supplier.

The Taiwan Relations Act, enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1979 when Washington and Taipei severed ties, obliges the U.S. only to provide Taiwan with defensive arms.

RAF's newest transport aircraft named Atlas

The RAF's next generation military transport aircraft has officially been named Atlas at the Royal International Air Tattoo, which is taking place at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.

The RAF's Airbus A400M transport aircraft will be known as Atlas 

The aircraft, which has until now been known as the A400M, will replace the RAF's existing C-130 Hercules fleet and, along with the Voyager and C-17, will provide the UK military's future air transport force.

The UK is buying 22 of the aircraft from Airbus Military, and the first Atlas is expected to be delivered to the RAF in 2014.

Able to carry twice as much as the Hercules, Atlas can transport 32 tonnes of cargo over a range of 4,500km, providing unprecedented capability to support the UK Armed Forces.

It can move up to 116 paratroopers and large armoured vehicles such as Mastiffs as well as vast amounts of humanitarian and disaster relief. The aircraft's ability to land on semi-permanent runways and rough ground means Atlas can fly its cargo into the centre of operations, supplying tactical forward bases or evacuating casualties or refugees.

Five Airbus A400M test aircraft fly over Toulouse

The Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Peter Luff, said:

    "Atlas will be a uniquely capable aircraft and will provide both tactical and strategic airlift capabilities for use in peace, crisis and war. The name Atlas reflects the potential of this mighty aircraft to provide help and support to our Armed Forces and others in need across the globe.

    "The programme is a good example of how European partners can work together to deliver world-class military capability."

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, said:

    "Atlas is going to be a major capability for Defence and the Royal Air Force is looking forward to Atlas joining our world-class fleet of air mobility aircraft.

 NH90 military helicopter is loaded into an Airbus A400M

    "Atlas will offer a step-change in the Royal Air Force's capability, and with its significant payload it will be able to transport every type of UK protected mobility vehicle directly to where they are needed as well as supporting forces on the ground through significant tactical air drops.

    "Atlas, together with the C-17 Globemaster, C-130J Hercules and the new Voyager aircraft now entering service with the RAF, will give us the ability to rapidly move people and equipment around the globe for military and humanitarian operations for decades ahead."

The UK is one of seven nations who will be purchasing Atlas from Airbus Military. The development and build of the aircraft has created or secured work for 8,000 people in the UK.

USAF Readies For C-130 Engine Upgrade Tests

Flight tests of a fuel-saving upgrade to the Rolls-Royce T56 are set to begin at Edwards AFB, Calif., in July.

The modified engine will be fitted to an Air National Guard-operated Lockheed Martin C-130H and is aimed at demonstrating flying qualities data as well as verifying overall improvements in performance. Flight tests are expected to run through August.

Tom Hartmann, Rolls-Royce vice president for customer business, says flight tests mark the final qualification stage for the upgrade kit, which is attracting interest from domestic and international C-130 operators. The T56-15 Series 3.5 “enhancement” kit originally was launched in response to U.S. government calls for reduced dependence on foreign oil, and if adopted could extent the operational life of the C-130H to 2040.

Hartmann says the kit is designed to reduce fuel burn by 8% and increase overall engine life by around 10%. Alternatively, as a trade-off against the extended-life option, he adds the upgrade also can be used to generate up to 9% more power for improved hot-and-high performance. The overall performance of the kit was recently verified in a test cell in Indianapolis, Hartmann says.

The kit, which can be fitted as part of a standard overhaul, consists of remanufactured compressor blades, single-crystal first-stage high-pressure turbine blades, and aerodynamically redesigned blades and vanes throughout the low-pressure turbine. According to an Air Force analysis report, the Series 3.5 upgrade could contribute to overall long-term savings of $3.5 billion over the lifetime of the fleet. Rolls has previously stated that the kit also could be potentially adapted for the T56-14 version that powers the P-3 maritime patrol aircraft.

Flight tests also will assess if the engine can deliver on estimates that it will increase the range of the C-130H with a 20,000-lb. payload to more than 3,180 nm, from 2,845 nm, compared with a standard Series 3-powered aircraft under identical conditions.