The Indian air force is in negotiations to order a second batch of six Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules, the US-based manufacturer has confirmed.
The new order will expand the fleet of six C-130Js India ordered in 2008, which Lockheed has already delivered.
The Indian air force immediately deployed its newly-delivered C-130Js in humanitarian missions, including relief flights to remote areas in northern India.
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Lockheed and US government officials are also in talks to sign new C-130J orders in the Middle East, Israel and South Africa.
The US government is also interested in buying more C-130Js. In addition to the Department of Defense, Lockheed is holding discussions with the US Forest Service to order as many as 24 aircraft.
So far, Lockheed has received a total of 219 orders for the latest variant of the C-130 series.
The production rate over the last five years has nearly quadrupled, from nine aircraft per year to 33 this year.
Source: Flight International
