The USAF's Air Mobility Command is a very happy customer - not only is the workhorse Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules proving itself, it is doing so in a 'no kidding' shooting war.
"While we typically expect C-130s to operate at a 75% mission capable rate, the C-130J, while supporting the global war on terror, achieved a staggering 98.9% mission capable rate," says General John Handy, AMC's commander.
The US marine corps, which has achieved a 100% mission capable rate with its KC-130F tankers, must be even more pleased.
Recent highlights for the C-130J have included the UK exercise eagle's eye, when RAF Hercules C4s dropped 706 paratroops, and Hurricane Adrian, when USAF WC-130Js saw action.
Committed
The aircraft has also been heavily committed in Afghanistan and Iraq. Every C-130J sortie in Iraq takes 40 truckloads off the roads, saving time, cost and potentially lives.
A total of 117 aircraft have been delivered or are on contract for the US armed forces - 11 'vanilla' C-130Js and 51 stretched C-130J-30 transports, 10 weather reconnaissance WC-130Js, six EC-130J psychological warfare aircraft, 33 KC-130J tankers with the USMC, and six SAR HC-130Js with the coastguard.
Another 25 (15 stretched C4s and 10 short C5s) are in RAF service, while Italy has 22 C-130Js (12 C-130Js and 10 C-130J-30s).
Australia now has 12 C-130J-30s, and Denmark has four.
This worldwide fleet has already amassed more than 200,000 flying hours.
Source: Flight Daily News
