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2013-09-01

C130J : Reliable & Affordable

The C-130J is a proven, highly reliable and affordable airlifter. The C-130J meets the growing worldwide need for airlift and continues to evolve to meet new operational requirements.

“Without Equal”

Throughout aviation history, no aircraft, either developed or under development, can match the flexibility of the C-130 Hercules. In production longer than most other military aircraft, the Hercules has always demonstrated the ability to fulfil the mission at hand.

Be it combat delivery, special missions, aerial refuelling, search and rescue, fire fighting, weather reconnaissance, armed ISR, medevac or the strategic and last tactical mile resupply of ground forces, the C-130 is always ready.

Features

Using its aft loading ramp and door, the C-130 can accommodate a wide variety of oversized cargo, including everything from utility helicopters and six-wheeled armored vehicles to standard palletized cargo and military personnel. In an aerial delivery role, it can airdrop loads up to 42,000 pounds or use its high-flotation landing gear to land and deliver cargo on rough, dirt strips.

The flexible design of the Hercules enables it to be configured for many different missions, allowing one aircraft to perform the role of many. Much of the special mission equipment added to the Hercules is removable, allowing the aircraft to return to its cargo delivery role if desired. Additionally, the C-130 can be rapidly reconfigured for the various types of cargo such as palletized equipment, floor-loaded material, airdrop platforms, container delivery system bundles, vehicles and personnel or aeromedical evacuation.

Design

The C-130J Super Hercules is designed to provide significant performance improvements and added operational capabilities that translate directly into increased mission effectiveness.

C-130J/J-30 major system improvements include advanced two-pilot flight station with fully integrated digital avionics, color multifunctional liquid crystal and head-up displays and state-of-the-art navigation that includes a dual inertial navigation system and GPS. The aircraft also features fully integrated defensive systems, low-power color radar, digital moving map display, new turboprop engines with six-bladed all-composite propellers and a digital auto pilot. The C-130J/J-30 also includes improved fuel, environmental and ice-protection and an enhanced cargo-handling system.

Operational Capability

The C-130J has proven itself in multiple combat theaters, multiple humanitarian and disaster relief operations, search and rescue, weather reconnaissance, maritime surveillance, electronic surveillance, special operations, firefighting and armed combat support.

Reliability and Sustainability

The C-130J has a proven history of reliability and mission readiness and benefits from an outstanding global logistics network. With legacy C-130 and C-130J aircraft based in 72 countries worldwide – from the hottest climates to the coldest – Lockheed Martin provides complete sustainment solutions for any customer force size, operational concept and support arrangement.

Battle-Tested and Combat-Proven

The C-130J has the range and flexibility to support global missions and future operations. It also has a proven history of reliability and mission readiness. In addition to an impressive global logistics network, the aircraft continues to evolve through upgrades designed to meet emerging operational requirements.

The C-130J Super Hercules has proven capabilities in the field of Air-to-air/ground refueling, Combat delivery, Firefighting, Infiltration/ex-filtration, Maritime patrol, Peacekeeping and humanitarian missions, Search and rescue, Special operations and VIP transport and ISR.

Benefits of the Roll-On/Roll-Off Pallet Design

Lockheed Martin is a world leader in systems integration, spanning both defense and civil applications. Lockheed Martin’s commercial off-the-shelf (COTS)-based, fully integrated, scalable solutions are designed to adapt to evolving mission requirements and aggressive implementation schedules.

Lockheed Martin has designed a quick-change, roll-on/ roll-off C4ISR Mission System Pallet (MSP) package that allows a typical transport aircraft, such as the C-130J, to be quickly reconfigured from transport to airborne surveillance missions for optimal multi-role performance.

The MSP can be installed onto and removed from the aircraft within 30 minutes. The aircraft essentially becomes two aircraft in one. It can still be utilized as a medium range cargo aircraft simply by removing the MSP. Installing the MSP will convert the cargo aircraft to a fully integrated ISR platform. The operators of the aircraft do not lose a cargo aircraft, but gain an ISR system comprised of fully integrated computer systems, sensors and communications equipment.

During unplanned or scheduled aircraft maintenance, the MSP can be removed and installed into another properly equipped aircraft. Therefore, the benefits of the MSP can be utilized even while the original host aircraft is in maintenance.

Other than a few sensor and communication electronics, the majority of the Mission System components are installed on the MSP. The MSP is assembled and tested in a factory environment and delivered as a completed unit to the aircraft. The addition of racks and wiring is minimal to support the MSP. This vastly reduces the amount of time and cost associated with modifying the aircraft, and results in less down-time for the aircraft. Another benefit of producing the MSP in a factory environment is that the MSP can be assembled and tested independent of the aircraft. This reduces the amount of integration time required, again reducing the time and cost associated with a typical permanent installation effort.

The MSP also provides for flexible and easy maintenance. The MSP is designed to provide easy access to all Line Replaceable Units (LRUs). This allows for easy maintenance while the system is installed on the aircraft. If a more extensive repair effort is required, the MSP can be removed from the aircraft and repaired in an avionics shop. This allows the aircraft to be used for its traditional role of a cargo aircraft. With the MSP in a shop, maintenance can be performed without moving tools onto the aircraft. This will shorten the repair time.

Technology refresh updates can be accomplished in less time with the MSP.

The modifications to the MSP can be performed in an avionics shop without impacting the use of the aircraft. The ability to complete updates in an avionics shop results in a shorter modification period and therefore lower modification cost than a typical permanent installation. The MSP is designed to support additional capabilities. Sufficient rack space is available to add equipment to provide additional processing and sensor capabilities. These updates can be accomplished with little to no impact to the aircraft.

Background

Four decades have elapsed since the US Air Force issued its original design specification, yet the remarkable C-130 remains in production. The initial production model was the C-130A, with four Allison T56-A-11 or -9 turboprop engines. A total of 219 were ordered and deliveries began in December 1956. The C-130B introduced Allison T56-A-7 turboprop engines and the first of 134 entered Air Force service in May 1959.

Introduced in August of 1962, the 389 C-130Es that were ordered using the same Allison T56-A-7 engine, but adding two 1,290 gallon external fuel tanks and an increased maximum takeoff weight capability. June 1974 introduced the first of 308 C-130Hs with the more powerful Allison T56-A-15 turboprop engine. Nearly identical to the C-130E externally, the new engine brought major performance improvements to the aircraft.

The latest C-130 to be produced, the C-130J, entered the inventory in February 1999. With the noticeable difference of a six-bladed composite propeller coupled to a Rolls-Royce AE2100D3 turboprop engine. The C-130J incorporates state-of-the-art technology, which reduces manpower requirements, lowers operating and support costs, and provides life-cycle cost savings over earlier C-130 models. Compared to older C-130s, the J model climbs faster and higher, flies farther at a higher cruise speed, and takes off and lands in a shorter distance. The C-130J-30 is a stretch version, adding 15 feet to the fuselage, increasing usable space in the cargo compartment.

Production

The C-130J is in high rate production and has been selected by 15 nations. Multiple configurations are produced on the same production line because of the flexible design characteristics of the aircraft. The program has a proven track record of on-time or ahead-of-schedule deliveries.

Reference / Photo: www.lockheedmartin.com / www.af.mil

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