New C-130Js for Australia
On 1 November 2022, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) announced that they will replace its current medium air mobility fleet of C-130J-30 Hercules and C-27J Spartan with new C-130J Hercules transporters.
UPDATE: On 2 November 2022, the US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Government of Australia of 24 Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules transport aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of USD 6,4 billion.
The ADF has identified that the new C-130J represents the only option that meets all of Australia’s capability requirements and assures Defence’s medium air mobility capability without introducing substantial cost, schedule and capability risk. As a result, the C-130J will be the only option that ADF will progress for Government approval under Project AIR 7404 Phase 1 in 2023.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) operates a fleet of twelve C-130J-30s since 1999 with 37 Squadron Foremost at RAAF Base Richmond (NSW) and ten C-27Js with 35 Squadron Adept at RAAF Base Amberley (Qld). Deliveries of the C-27J only started in 2014 and ended in April 2018.
The number of new Hercules aircraft that will be acquired under Project AIR 7404 has not been disclosed yet, but it is believed that 24 C-130J-30s have been requested to replace the current fleet of C-130Js and C-27Js. It has also been reported that a separate tranche of KC-130J tankers may also be under consideration.
Photo by Shrey Chopra (Scramble Archive)