Lockheed Martin photo by Marco Ricco. Lockheed Martin submitted a Program Notification Letter to the Federal Aviation Administration o...
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| Lockheed Martin photo by Marco Ricco. |
Lockheed Martin submitted a Program Notification Letter to the Federal Aviation Administration on Jan. 21, 2014, for a type design update for its LM-100J, a civilian variant of the proven C-130-30J Super Hercules military airlifter.
Lockheed produced more than 100 L-100s, which were the commercial variant of the first generation C-130, produced from 1964-1992, many of which are still operational worldwide with commercial and government customers.
“The LM-100J is a natural expansion of the Super Hercules family. It is a modern answer to the existing, multi-tasked L-100 airlift fleet which, true to Hercules form, is a workhorse that has been a critical cargo asset for 40 years,” said George Shultz, vice president and general manager, C-130 Programs.
Lockheed says, through select design changes, the LM-100J will perform as a civil multi-purpose air freighter capable of rapid and efficient transport of cargo. LM-100J incorporates technological developments and improvements that results from years of C-130J operational experience, including more than 1 million flight hours.
As it is based on the operational C-130J, the civil variant LM-100J can operate from short, unprepared airfields without ground support equipment. It requires minimal material handling equipment and enables rapid onload and offload at truck-bed height. LM-100J is expected to make maiden flight in 2017,and first delivery in 2018. LM-100J is also designed for future missions including aerial spray, aerial firefighting and delivery, medevac/air ambulance, humanitarian aid and VIP transport.
US Government's defence budget cuts, has prompted Lockheed to diversify business to bring stability to its Super Hercules production line.
