Wed, Oct 07, 2009
200th Aircraft Will Be Equipped To Support Special
Missions
Lockheed Martin began final assembly of the first HC/MC-130J
Monday, which will also be the 200th C-130J to be produced. U.S.
Air Force and company officials commemorated the milestones during
a short ceremony on the production line by signing the keel of the
historic C-130J that will be delivered in 2010.
"Again we see the C-130 setting new standards for mission
flexibility," said Ross Reynolds, vice president of Lockheed Martin
C-130 programs. "This new Special Mission configuration of the
proven C-130J will give the U.S. Air Force unparalleled capability
for Combat Search and Rescue, Personnel Recovery and Special
Operations Missions. As demand for the C-130J continues to grow
around the world, we will see more and more the way this aircraft
can meet the demands of any operator and mission."
Lockheed Martin is under contract to the U.S. Air Force to build
the HC/MC-130J Special Mission Hercules to replace aging fleets of
Combat Search and Rescue HC-130s and Air Force Special Operations
MC-130s. In April 2008, a Department of Defense Acquisition
Decision Memorandum (ADM) was signed to start the HC/MC-130J
program with a six-aircraft buy. Since that time, six more aircraft
have been placed on contract and the latest ADM, signed on Aug. 26,
2009, authorized up to 22 HC/MC130J aircraft.
The new aircraft, based on a KC-130J tanker baseline, will have
a host of factory installed provisions to support special mission
operations. These include the Enhanced Service Life Wing, the
Enhanced Cargo Handling System, a Universal Aerial Refueling
Receptacle Slipway Installation (boom refueling receptacle), an
Electro-Optic/Infrared Sensor, a Combat Systems Operator Station on
the flight deck, dual military SATCOMs, Enhanced Vision System
provisions, and higher capacity 60/90 kilovolt amp (KVA)
generators. In-line production of this configuration reduces cost
and schedule, allowing the aircraft to meet the required 2012
Initial Operational Capability.
More News
Cooperative Surveillance Any surveillance system, such as secondary surveillance radar (SSR), wide-area multilateration (WAM), or ADS-B, that is dependent upon the presence of cert>[...]
Aero Linx: OX5 Aviation Pioneers Incorporated in 1955 as a Pa 501 (c)(3) Not for Profit Corporation, the OX5 Aviation Pioneers is dedicated to bringing before the public the accomp>[...]
The Pilot Appeared To Regain Control After Six Rotations And Attempted To “Fly Out” Inverted But Had Insufficient Altitude On November 8, 2025, at 1038 eastern standard>[...]
From 2018 (YouTube Edition): Aero-News Talks With The Airplane's Builder One of the many unique airplanes at AirVenture 2018 was a 1/3-scale B-17 bomber built by Jack Bally, who ta>[...]
Aero Linx: Society of U.S. Army Flight Surgeons (SoUSAFS) The Society of US Army Flight Surgeons (SoUSAFS) serves to advance the science and art of Aerospace Medicine and its allie>[...]
ANN's Daily Aero-Term (12.04.25): Cooperative Surveillance
See All