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2015-12-01

LM-100J: READY TO DELIVER WHATEVER THE FUTURE DEMANDS

Lockheed Martin’s LM-100J is a commercial derivative of the C-130J-30 Super Hercules, currently the airlifter of choice for 16 nations. Through select design changes, the LM-100J performs as a civil multi-purpose air freighter capable of rapid and efficient transport of a variety of payloads. The LM-100J is an efficient and ideal airlift solution when delivering bulk and oversize cargo, particularly to austere locations worldwide.

The LM-100J incorporates technological developments and improvements over existing L-100 aircrafts at a competitive price that results from years of C-130J operational experience, including more than 1.3 million fleetwide flight hours. The result of this experience and advancement translates to an aircraft that delivers reliable service in a versatile airframe for decades to come.

A HERCULEAN NEED

More than 110 L-100s (the commercial variant of the C-130 Hercules airlifter) were produced from 1964 through 1992 at the then Lockheed-Georgia Company facility in Marietta, Georgia. More than half of those airlifters are still in service worldwide used for civil airlift missions in places where jet aircraft operations are impractical.

From delivering food during the Biafran relief operation in Africa, to spraying dispersant on the waters of Prince William Sound in Alaska after the Exxon Valdez oil tanker disaster, to transporting rare black rhinos and massive killer whales, crews flying the L-100 transport have done many hard jobs in the hardest of places.

As these fleets age, operators have said they want all of the capabilities of an L-100 along with the enhancements found only with a C-130J Super Hercules. “Only a Herc can replace a Herc,” is what they have said. The result? The LM-100J.

Analysts predict that Latin America, Africa, and Middle East countries will see double digit growth in air freight business over the next decade. Overall, the world’s air cargo trade is expected to grow by four percent annually for at least the next several years. Even higher growth rates are predicted for niche operators.

The LM-100J stands ready to support this growth — with legacy L-100 operators and new Hercules customers alike.

A BRAND NEW HERC

As it is based on the proven C-130J Super Hercules, the LM-100J provides operators with a greatly enhanced aircraft compared to legacy L-100s. However, while the new LM-100J offers more power and capability, the same unmatched rugged and versatile attributes inherent in the legacy C-130s and L-100s remain.

The LM-100J incorporates state-of-the-art technology that reduces manpower requirements, lower operating and support costs, and provides life-cycle cost savings over L-100 models. Compared to legacy L-100s, the LM-100J-model climbs faster and higher, flies farther at a higher cruise speed, and takes off and lands in a shorter distance.

Major system improvements include: advanced two-pilot flight station with fully integrated digital avionics; color multifunctional liquid crystal displays and head-up displays; state-of-the-art navigation systems with dual inertial navigation system and global positioning system; fully integrated defensive systems; low-power color radar; digital moving map display; digital auto pilot; improved fuel, environmental and ice-protection systems; an Enhanced Service Life (ESL) center wing box; and numerous reliability and maintainability improvements that are part of the basic LM-100J design.

The Hercules is known for and by its four-engine turboprop propulsion system. To this day, the propulsion system is the heart and soul of the C-130J and the LM-100J.

An updated propulsion system (Rolls Royce AE2100D3 engines and six-bladed composite GE-Dowty R391 propellers) powers the C-130J, providing the aircraft with the ability to perform in a variety of locations (from jungles to mountains to arctic regions to deserts) in a number of natural conditions (hot, cold, high, low, humid, dry, dusty) with unmatched efficiency and range.

This durable propulsion system also allows for the LM-100J to land seamlessly on unprepared, dirt or gravel runways — areas where many of tactical airlift missions take place. Its turboprops allow the LM-100J to not be impeded by landscape or damaging debris.

The result of all of these improvements is an exceptionally efficient airplane, yielding more than 30 percent lower operating costs per flying hour as compared to legacy LM-100J.

The LM-100J is the same size as a C-130J-30, which is commonly referred as a “stretch” Super Herc. This ariframe can accommodate up to eight standard 88-inch by 108-inch 463L pallets. In military operations, the stretch version is used primarily for cargo delivery, airdrop, personnel transport, and paratroop missions. Historically, the L-100 was also a “stretch” version. It is 15 foot longer compared to the shorter C-130 configuration, providing vital space that can truly expand the aircraft’s capabilities.

ONE AIRCRAFT, MANY CAPABILITIES

One prominent characteristic of any Hercules – commercial or military variant – is the aircraft’s unmatched versatility.

From the beginning, C-130s and L-100s have featured a large, unobstructed, fully-pressurized cargo hold that can rapidly be reconfigured for upwards of 100 military and civilian capabilities. The LM-100J features this same versatile cargo hold. The LM-100J’s combination of a cargo floor at truck bed height and rear loading ramp provides ease of loading and unloading with true roll-on/roll-off (or RORO) capability truly makes it unmatched in its capabilities as compared to other freighters.

Seen mainly in ships, the RORO vehicles/vessels have built-in ramps that allow the cargo to be efficiently rolled-on and off the vessel when in port. In the LM-100J, the RORO capability is found with the optional Enhanced Cargo Handling System (ECHS), which is an option that has been included in a majority of all C-130Js delivered to date. RORO features allows for a LM-100J’s cargo area to be reconfigured anywhere in a matter of hours without major design modifications necessary.

Multiple roll-on/roll-off configurations are available to expand the LM-100J’s capabilities.

Typical roles include:

• Oversized cargo transport

• Oil dispersion/aerial spray

• Oil and gas exploration

• Mining logistics operations

• Aerial fire fighting

• Aerial delivery

• Medevac/air ambulance

• Humanitarian relief operations

• VIP and personnel transport

• Austere field operations

• Search and rescue missions

A GLOBAL ASSET

Like its military counterparts, the LM-100J is built to operate as a global workhorse. Current L-100 operators span the world, with a heavy concentration of activity in the SAMENA region.

With C-130 and L-100s operated out of 68 nations, there is a need for around-the-clock, real-time worldwide fleet support options. Lockheed Martin provides such resources to the global community of Hercules operators, which will support LM-100J fleets.

Operators would have access to a worldwide network of Hercules Service Centers, Heavy Maintenance Centers and Quick Engine Change (QEC) Centers that are located on six continents. In addition, Lockheed Martin provides support through its Enterprise Operations Center and its Technical Support Information team.

In addition, LM-100J operators have access to an impressive global logistics network and insights from known operational and support costs gained through the existing C-130J fleet, which currently includes upwards of almost 350 operational aircraft.

NEXT STEPS
Lockheed Martin introduced the LM-100J in January 2014. In July of that year at Farnborough Air Show, ASL Aviation (parent company of SAFAIR, which currently operates one of the world’s largest L-100 fleets) signed a letter of intent with Lockheed Martin to obtain up to 10 LM-100Js. Lockheed Martin officials continue to be in discussions with interested operators around the world who are looking to add the LM-100J and its unique capabilities to their fleets.

Lockheed Martin team members are currently working with the FAA on a type certificate update for the LM-100J. The first LM-100J currently is under production on Lockheed Martin’s Hercules production line in Marietta, Georgia, USA, and is expected to make its first flight in 2017, with delivery in 2018•

Ref: www.lockheedmartin.com/lm100j

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