New Super Hercules transporters for RAAF
On 24 July 2023, the Australian government announced the purchase of twenty new Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules transport aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) under Project AIR 7404 Phase 1. The contract is valued at AUD 9,8 billion (USD 6,6 billion).
The new-build aircraft will replace and expand the current fleet of twelve C-130J-30s operated by 37 Squadron Foremost at RAAF Base Richmond (NSW) since 1999. Delivery of the first aircraft is expected in late 2027. In November 2022, the US State Department 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 current infrastructure at RAAF Base Richmond will be redeveloped to support the new fleet. The C-130J-30s have been involved in almost every major Defence operation in recent decades, from the Bougainville Peace Building Programme 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.
Australia has been operating the Hercules since December 1958, when the first C-130A model was delivered. Almost all basic variants were operated by the RAAF; twelve C-130A from 1958 till 1978, twelve C-130E from 1966 till 2000, twelve C-130H from 1978 till November 2012 and the C-130J-30 from 1997 till now.
Photo by Hans van Herk