Page 86 - Australian Defence Magazine Feb-Mar 2023

86 AIRPOWER C-130J-30 HERCULES
FEBRUARY-MARCH 2023 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
NEW LABOURS FOR HERCULES
On 2 November last year Defence released a media statement confirming it will replace the Royal Australian Air Force’s fleet of 12 Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Hercules with more of the same.
NIGEL PITTAWAY | MELBOURNE & FORT WORTH
WHILE the announcement that the RAAF wanted to replace the existing Hercules with an expanded fleet of C-130J- 30s took few by surprise, the fact that the statement was released before the forthcoming Defence Strategic Review raised a few eyebrows. In the release Defence said that it “is replacing and expanding its current air mobility fleet” – no ifs or buts about it – but ADM understands that the decision will be subject to the DSR after all.
If the acquisition, under Air 7404 Phase 1 (Medium Air Mobility Aircraft) is given the green light by the DSR to proceed it will continue the Hercules dynasty within the RAAF that began with deliveries of the first C-130A vari- ants in December 1958.
UPGRADING THE CURRENT HERCULES
After operating the C-130A, C-130E and C-130H over the decades, Australia became an early customer for Lockheed Martin’s new generation C-130J, purchasing twelve of the stretched C-130J-30 aircraft in 1995.
The first of the new Hercules arrived in Australia in September 1999 and the fleet has always been operated by 37 Sqn at RAAF Base Richmond,
“DEFENCE SAYS THE DISPOSAL PLANS FOR THE EXISTING FLEET HAVE NOT YET BEEN CONFIRMED”
west of Sydney.
Being a software-driven platform,
the C-130J continues with a series of (largely software-oriented) upgrades under Project Air 5440 and Austra- lia is a member of the international C-130J User’s Group (JUG), which includes the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Denmark, Norway and Canada, and has a vote on which
The upgrade of the first RAAF aircraft to Block 8.1 con- figuration was completed by Lockheed Martin at Green- ville, South Carolina, with support from the US Air Force. The remainder are being progressively upgraded at Rich- mond by Airbus Australia Pacific, Lockheed Martin’s C- 130J-30 sustainment partner since 2009. By the end of 2024 four aircraft had been completed and the RAAF is expected to reach Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in early 2023, followed by Final Operational Capability (FOC) by the end of 2024.
The fleet has also been the beneficiary of a number of capability enhancements under the Plan Jericho banner, including Satellite Communications (SATCOM), the abil- ity to utilise Northrop Grumman AAQ-28(v) Litening tar-
capabilities go into each new software block.
The current software iteration is Block 8.1, which will include enhancements to the C-130J-30’s navigation sys- tems to ensure greater precision during landing approach- es – particularly at austere airfields in the region – and when dropping loads into a drop zone. The upgrade will also ensure compliance with the latest international Air Traffic Management regulations and introduce an updated
Identification Friend, Foe (IFF) capability.