Canada buys 17 C-130J Super Hercules in $1.4 Billion Contract
Lockheed Martin has signed a contract with the Government of Canada valued at $1.4 billion for the purchase of 17 C-130J Super Hercules airlifters and related equipment and services. The Canadian Forces’ new Super Hercules will be the longer fuselage or “stretched” variant of the C-130J, similar to those being delivered to the U.S. Air Force. Deliveries to Canada will begin in 2010. Canada joins the growing number of nations with C-130J fleets. Allied operators include the United States, Australia, Demark, Italy, Norway and the United Kingdom.
The contract begins the process for working with Canadian industry to establish a 20-year In-Service Support (ISS) program for the new fleet.
The new C-130J generates much greater operational efficiency than the older C-130s, such as Canada’s E and H model, by flying farther, faster, with more payload and higher reliability. Additionally, the C-130J only requires three crew members for most missions so fewer flight crew members are exposed to potential threats in-theatre. C-130Js are currently deployed
in several theatres and are operating at a very high tempo efficiently and reliably. C-130Js are being used daily for troop and equipment re-supply via ground delivery and airdrop, for air-to-air refueling, ground refueling and humanitarian relief.