Australia will Purchase 20 New C-130J Hercules
RAAF currently operates 12 C-130J Hercules aircraft (photo : AusDoD)
Multibillion dollar investment in new C-130J Hercules aircraft
The Albanese
Government will purchase 20 new C-130J Hercules aircraft for the Royal
Australian Air Force for $9.8 billion. This will provide the Air Force
with state of the art C-130 Hercules to meet the air transport needs of
the future.
The new acquisitions
will replace and expand upon the 12 Hercules aircraft currently operated
by Air Force with delivery of the first aircraft expected from late
2027.
There will be
significant benefits for Australian industry from the expanded fleet
size, with opportunities to construct facilities and infrastructure and
to sustain the aircraft.
The Australian
Defence Force relies on the C-130J Hercules aircraft for the deployment
of personnel, equipment and humanitarian supplies. The iconic aircraft
is regularly used in search and rescue missions, disaster relief and
medical evacuation.
The C-130J has been
involved in almost every major Defence operation in recent decades, from
Bougainville assistance and Timor-Leste peacekeeping through to
conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. More recently the aircraft supported
Australia’s response to COVID-19 in the region, delivering vaccines and
medical supplies, as well bushfire and flood response.
The C-130J Hercules
are made by Lockheed Martin and are being purchased from the United
States. The aircraft will continue to be operated by No. 37 Squadron at
RAAF Base Richmond in NSW.
(Aus DoD)
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