India and US inked a contract for additional Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifters on 27 December 2013.
India and US inked a contract for additional Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifters on 27 December 2013.
The deal signed through the US government’s Foreign Military Sale also includes associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support worth of $1.01 billion.
The new batch of six planes will be located at Panagarh in West Bengal, which would be the headquarters of the proposed Indian army Mountain Strike Corps along the eastern border with China. The first six C-130js are based in Hindon Airbase, Delhi.
The deal consists 6 Lockheed Martin C-130J United States Air Force (USAF) baseline aircraft including:
- USAF baseline equipments.
- 6 Rolls Royce AE 2100D3 spare engines.
- 8 AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning Systems (two spares).
- 8 AN/ALR-56M Advanced Radar Warning Receivers (two spares).
- 8 AN/ALE-47 Counter-Measures Dispensing Systems (two spares).
- 8 AAQ-22 Star SAFIRE III Special Operations Suites (two spares).
- 8 ARC-210 Radios (Non-COMSEC).
- 3200 Flare Cartridges.
Configured for special operations, the Indian C-130Js will bolster strategic airlift capablity with quick deployment of forces in all weather conditions and is capable of landing on unprepared or semi prepared surfaces. Equipped with an Infrared Detection Set (IDS), the aircraft will be able to perform precision low-level flying, airdrops and landing in blackout conditions. Self-protection systems and other features are included to ensure aircraft survivability in hostile air defense environments. In addition, the aircraft is equipped with air-to-air receiver refueling capability for extended range operations.
C-130J variant is the latest comprehensive update of the venerable Lockheed C-130 Hercules, which had the longest continuous production run for more than 50 years of any military aircraft in history.First introduced in 1999, features of C-130J include a new digital avionics architecture, a new propulsion system, twin head-up pilot displays certified as primary flight instruments, and dual mission computers which automate many functions, allowing the aircraft to be operated by only two pilots and a loadmaster.
Compared with earlier C-130 models, the C-130J provides 40 percent greater range, 40 percent higher cruising ceiling, 50 percent decrease in time-to-climb, 21 percent increase in maximum speed, and 41 percent decrease in maximum effort takeoff run.
The heart of the new Hercules advanced technology is its modern flight station with multi-function, liquid crystal displays (LCD) for aircraft flight control, operating, and navigation systems. In addition to the four displays on the instrument panel, pilots use holographic head-up displays as primary flight instruments, a precedent among military transports.
C-130J is powered by four Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 turboprop engines, each flat rated at 4,591 shaft horsepower, generating 29 percent more thrust although they are 15 percent more fuel efficient. An all-composite six-blade Dowty Aerospace R391 propeller system which is lighter and has fewer moving parts than previous Hercules propellers. Engines are precisely controlled by a full authority digital electronic control(FADEC).
In a significant strategic airlift capability demonstration along the border with China, a IAF C-130J aircraft landed at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), the highest airstrip in the world on 20 Aug 2013.
