Lockheed Martin Offers India Upgraded C-130J 'Super Hercules' with Attack Capabilities for Special Ops

U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin has put forth a proposal to supply India with a customized C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft designed explicitly for special operations. This offer aligns with the Indian Air Force's (IAF) tender for Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA).

Lockheed Martin aims to leverage the IAF's positive experience with the standard C-130J, which has already proven valuable for rapid deployment by India's National Security Guard (NSG). The proposed C-130J-SOF variant boasts further enhancements, catering to the diverse needs of special forces operations.

This specialized aircraft promises versatility, combining traditional transport capabilities with advanced features for combat search and rescue, infiltration, exfiltration, and mid-air refueling. Its ability to provide humanitarian relief adds to its wide-ranging utility.

Notably, the C-130J-SOF can transform into a potent combat asset when equipped with a 30mm cannon and precision-guided missiles, offering close air support and armed reconnaissance capabilities. Enhanced defensive countermeasures, sensors, and night vision capabilities will further amplify its operational effectiveness.

Lockheed Martin underscores the aircraft's adaptability and customization potential, allowing the IAF to tailor the C-130J-SOF to their unique requirements. This proposal signifies a considerable advancement in India's pursuit of a world-class special operations capability.

 

[beencensured]

You need three things to develop a local design: Time, money, and expertise.

We don't have too much time, we don't have money to spare for this, and we have limited expertise.

Sure, an indigenous design is better, but it isn't as easy as just saying "develop an indigenous design" is. That is more of a long-term goal.

Another arm lobbyist liar, we have time, money, and engineers. Instead exporting talent we can develop the nation.
Low education of slave makes you talk nonsense,.

 

[Pad UwU]

Spreading lies and misinformation as usual.

While US does buy the most from us, it’s not because of offsets alone. There are many companies and orders where they buy from us because we are the most competitive one. For example, we are exporting parts to LM from TASL even after the offset period is over.

Regarding fulfilling offsets. Remember Boeing signing a deal with DRDO to set up a test facility and then refusing citing US laws? CAG said that the test facility was an important one and now there is no way visible to meet those offset obligations.

On the other hand, France met all its offset obligations in the Rafale deal and exceeded them in the Scorpene deal.

So when it comes to offsets, France has an amazing track record while US, like Russia, has cheated us even after having signed contracts.

Sounds more bias to me just to promote a certain team that your into 😹😹😹😹

 

[beencensured]

And you feel Embraer or Airbus will bend over backwards and are somehow immune to supply chain disruptions?

They would not harm India on purpose.

 

[beencensured]

The A400M is a sub-optimal replacement for the Il-76. Instead of that, it may be a better idea to join the US effort of developing a new airlifter, and lease / buy a few C-17s in the interim.

Still promoting aircraft with two accidents in India. Have shame.

 

[Akshat]

Sounds more bias to me just to promote a certain team that your into 😹😹😹😹

I found faults in his arguments, and I pointed out with facts what exactly is wrong or misinforming there. So instead of leveling false accusations, come out with facts and tell me which part is wrong. Talk with facts and data not your own bias because you just hate France.

 

[Akshat]

Usual French propaganda. True France has been one of the most reliable defence partner and supported Indian cause under duress too.

For Offsets and ToT, French are no better. They have been fined too and most likely they’d fined under Rafale deal too. On top of it, French commercial terms are super exploitative.

Nope. No fines for not meeting offset requirements on France. There was only one fine, that too on MBDA, which was for not meeting their annual target which can be met by the end of the deal as per MoD guidelines. And MBDA even argued against it, filing a complaint to the MoD that its relevant department didn’t provide it with the offset certificates on time and its own implementation was on time. Regardless, the amount was also only less than 0.5% of the total offset value of the deal.

 

[Aayush Pratap]

Let's get some of these birds

 

[Anant]

Another arm lobbyist liar, we have time, money, and engineers. Instead exporting talent we can develop the nation.
Low education of slave makes you talk nonsense,.

We can't manufacture a simple trainer aircraft (the HTT-40) on time. We can't get a basic advanced trainer design (the HJT-36) to work after throwing in literally two decades since the first flight. We have companies that have taken four decades to develop a decent 4.5th generation aircraft, but are absolutely pants at manufacturing them. The same company is now dreaming and making false claims about delivering that and other jets at an impossibly high rate given the supply of components.

So, yes, forgive me if I don't agree with your statement for a single second. We do not have the time, as the An-32 upgrade program is still stuck and the aircraft and coming up for retirement. We do not have the money, as we have a lot of spending commitments that are getting pushed down. We also have very limited expertise, for if we had those, you wouldn't see delays as egregious as the ones I referred to in the first part of this comment.

Please take that nonsense elsewhere, and unless you know me personally, any insults you throw are just indicative of your own nature.

 

[Anant]

C130j has had two accidents. Any person with shame would not advertise such junk.,

Hold your horses there. Let me get your facts right. The C-130J has, to date, been involved in four hull losses globally, including one in India. Three of these were fatal. Of these, the first hull loss was in 2007, and was the result of a terrorist attack. No one lost their life in this, though the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The other three accidents (one each in 2013, 2014, and 2015) were all fatal, and were all a result of pilot error.

So, to echo my sentiment in my other reply to you, take that nonsense elsewhere. If you are going to attribute pilot error as bad design of the aircraft, then you are not even worth having a discussion to.

 

[Anant]

They would not harm India on purpose.

Ha! I don't know whether to laugh or despair about your optimism.

They will harm India just as much if they are told, and the US won't harm India either if they are told. Finally, unless you have actual evidence of either of those assertions, please do not just make claims.

 

[Anant]

lol made in india

Interestingly enough, of the three MTA contenders, the C-130J is probably the farthest along when it comes to local manufacturing. India already manufactures parts (specifically, the tail empennage) for the C-130J serving globally (in fact, every single C-130J built over the last decade has had it's tail empennage come from India). Moreover, LM has stated on occasion that a second production line would assist greatly with long-term production and sustainment of the C-130J fleets globally, and have identified India as the site for this line.

We already know what kind of local manufacturing we'd get with the A400M, and the C390 is just as much of a potpourri of parts from foreign nations as the Tejas Mk 1A is, so both cases would involve mostly just assembly.

 

[Anant]

Still promoting aircraft with two accidents in India. Have shame.

Have shame for listing false statistics, would you? Oh, and also have shame for calling pilot error as bad design for the aircraft. Have shame for those, would you?

 

[Sunil Choan]

Fantastic idea. The C-130J is a rugged aircraft type with a very distinguished service history, both in India and abroad. Moreover, keeping in mind that the type has even carried a 105mm gun on it at on point (the AC-130 variant), there is definitely both the scope and the need for such a variant.

On top of that, if we do go with the C-130J under MTA, we could also get a small number of KC-130Js to augment the Il-78 fleet while those are gradually replaced over time.

Build your own design develop manufacture don't rely on foreigners

 

[Ankit Singhal]

We should not give any future orders to America. Go with Airbus C295 and upcoming Japanese cargo air craft...

 

[MF]

We should not give any future orders to America. Go with Airbus C295 and upcoming Japanese cargo air craft...

The Japanese have already shown that they have no interest in making agreements that involve the transfer of technology for their aircraft, especially knowing that by doing so, they would be facilitating the creation of a future competitor.

 

[beencensured]

Have shame for listing false statistics, would you? Oh, and also have shame for calling pilot error as bad design for the aircraft. Have shame for those, would you?

When they followed order. Maybe if they stop ordering experimental flights with proven faulty aircraft that has habit of crashing in mountain wake turbulence (weather related) doing risky formation flying by experience pilots. You avoid the second accident which proved instruments of c130 j were off in landing accident. So we know you are an arm lobbyists. Cannot say fact who ordered to do such risky experimental flight by OEM overstating the planes capabilities. Certainly it was no error, but licking American s#1t hype that caused the accident.

 

[beencensured]

Ha! I don't know whether to laugh or despair about your optimism.

They will harm India just as much if they are told, and the US won't harm India either if they are told. Finally, unless you have actual evidence of either of those assertions, please do not just make claims.

1965 war, 1971 war, and so many sanction., terrorism in Punjab and kashmir. You need your drug use ss you are too illiterate.

 

[M.H.]

Interestingly enough, of the three MTA contenders, the C-130J is probably the farthest along when it comes to local manufacturing. India already manufactures parts (specifically, the tail empennage) for the C-130J serving globally (in fact, every single C-130J built over the last decade has had it's tail empennage come from India). Moreover, LM has stated on occasion that a second production line would assist greatly with long-term production and sustainment of the C-130J fleets globally, and have identified India as the site for this line.

We already know what kind of local manufacturing we'd get with the A400M, and the C390 is just as much of a potpourri of parts from foreign nations as the Tejas Mk 1A is, so both cases would involve mostly just assembly.

Indeed, a second production line could contribute to the project's sustainability! However, I wonder if it would be feasible? Unless the Americans lobby, the C-130 tends to win fewer and fewer contracts around the world. Analysts are already saying that the platform is already close to the upgrade limit, making large numbers of orders and upgrades unlikely. Some of its former operators are opting for newer platforms that are demonstrating their capabilities, such as the A400 and C-390. Except for the Russians and Chinese, most current aircraft have their components produced in various locations around the world, such as the A400 and C-390. A possible order from India would make it possible for some of these components to be produced by local companies, such as the one Embraer offered to Saudi Arabia.

 

[beencensured]

Hold your horses there. Let me get your facts right. The C-130J has, to date, been involved in four hull losses globally, including one in India. Three of these were fatal. Of these, the first hull loss was in 2007, and was the result of a terrorist attack. No one lost their life in this, though the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The other three accidents (one each in 2013, 2014, and 2015) were all fatal, and were all a result of pilot error.

So, to echo my sentiment in my other reply to you, take that nonsense elsewhere. If you are going to attribute pilot error as bad design of the aircraft, then you are not even worth having a discussion to.

How dare you lie about 15% of planes manufactured under c130 series have hull losses.
August 13, 2006: L-100-30 7T-VHG of Air Algérie was destroyed when it collided with terrain following a high-rate descent from 24,000 feet in Piacenza, Italy. The pilot, co-pilot, and flight engineer were killed.[5]
February 23, 2009: An Algerian Air Force C-130 crashed, details not known.
February 11, 2014:
Algerian Air Force C-130 7T-WHM crashed in a mountainous area en route to Constantine, killing all but 1 of the 4 crew and 74 passengers on board.
July 12, 1978: C-130H 748 of the Ecuadorian Air Force and operated by 11 squadron crashed into the eastern slopes of Pichincha Mountains, Ecuador. There were seven fatalities; the plane was transporting general cargo and appliances for the welfare office of the Ecuadorean Air Force.
April 29, 1982: C-130H 743 of the Ecuadorian Air Force operated by 11 Squadron, crashed into a forested hillside 15 kilometers before the runway of Mariscal Sucre Air Base in Quito, during go-around after missed approach.
April 29, 1982: C-130H 743 of the Ecuadorian Air Force operated by 11 Squadron, crashed into a forested hillside 15 kilometers before the runway of Mariscal Sucre Air Base in Quito, during go-around after missed approach.
November 25, 1975: C-130H 203/4X-FBO of the Israeli Defense Force/Air Force crashed into mountain Jebel Halal, 55 kilometers south-southeast of El Arish, Egypt. Pilots were Shaul Bustan and Uri Manor.[37]
Italy
edit
March 3, 1977: C-130H MM61996 of the Italian Air Force (46 Aerobrigata), crashed into Monte Serra, 15 kilometers east of Pisa, Italy.
September 17, 1999: C-130A 3610 of the Mexican Air Force crashed into mountains, 80 kilometers northeast of Mexico City, Mexico.
July 26, 2011: C-130H CNA-OQ of the Royal Moroccan Air Force crashed in southern Morocco, in a mountainous area near the city of Guelmim with 78 fatalities.[43
July 15, 1966: C-130B 24142 of the Pakistan Air Force (6 Squadron) crashed into mountain in Pakistan. All ten aboard killed.[46]
December 16, 1993: C-130H 4761 of the Philippine Air Force (222 Squadron), crashed into Mount Manase, 250 kilometers southeast of Manila during descent towards Naga Airport.
Spain
edit
May 28, 1980: C-130H T.10-1 of the Spanish Air Force (Escuadrón 311) crashed into mountain in central Gran Canaria.
October 19, 1968: C-130E, 17949 of the Turkish Air Force crashed into mountain on approach to Akhisar AB, Manisa, Turkey. Seven crew killed.
October 19, 1968: C-130E, 17949 of the Turkish Air Force crashed into mountain on approach to Akhisar AB, Manisa, Turkey. Seven crew killed.
.
Exact date unknown, c.1962 US C-130 crashed in Iran along the Iran-Turkey-Soviet Union border in the Zagros Mountains,[85] bodies and classified material recovered by US Army Special Forces under command of Lauri Törni, who "led his detachment onto the highest mountain in Iran" in the recovery operation.[86][87]
March 8, 1962:
C-130A 56-0546, c/n 3154, of the 40th Troop Carrier Squadron, 322d Air Division, crashed into mountain peak near Nairobi, Kenya in bad weather after it descended under given altitude. Six crew and seven passengers killed.
MC-130H Combat Talon II 87-0127 of the USAF (7th Special Operations Squadron, 352d Special Operations Group, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom), departed Tirana-Rinas Airport, Albania, for a night training mission to work on terrain-following and avoidance skills, airdrops and landing using night-vision goggles. The aircraft was flying 300 feet above the mountainous terrain when it was approaching a ridge. The airplane was not able to clear the ridge and stalled as the crew attempted to climb away. The aircraft struck the ridge, destroying the aircraft and killing all nine crew members on board.

" final retirement in the UK was marked with an impressive flypast tour. On June 14th, 2023, three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft flew an all-day route from RAF Brize Norton, covering a large part of the UK."

"Norwegian and Swedish authorities have launched investigations into the cause of a 15 March crash which killed all five crew members on board one of the Royal Norwegian Air Force's Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transports
.... Wreckage is scattered over a large area, including in a fresh avalanche zone beneath the impact point.

"The accident is still a mystery to us," Bruun-Hansen says. "The C-130J Hercules" Another crash near mountain.

 

[Anant]

How dare you lie about 15% of planes manufactured under c130 series have hull losses.
August 13, 2006: L-100-30 7T-VHG of Air Algérie was destroyed when it collided with terrain following a high-rate descent from 24,000 feet in Piacenza, Italy. The pilot, co-pilot, and flight engineer were killed.[5]
February 23, 2009: An Algerian Air Force C-130 crashed, details not known.
February 11, 2014:
Algerian Air Force C-130 7T-WHM crashed in a mountainous area en route to Constantine, killing all but 1 of the 4 crew and 74 passengers on board.
July 12, 1978: C-130H 748 of the Ecuadorian Air Force and operated by 11 squadron crashed into the eastern slopes of Pichincha Mountains, Ecuador. There were seven fatalities; the plane was transporting general cargo and appliances for the welfare office of the Ecuadorean Air Force.
April 29, 1982: C-130H 743 of the Ecuadorian Air Force operated by 11 Squadron, crashed into a forested hillside 15 kilometers before the runway of Mariscal Sucre Air Base in Quito, during go-around after missed approach.
April 29, 1982: C-130H 743 of the Ecuadorian Air Force operated by 11 Squadron, crashed into a forested hillside 15 kilometers before the runway of Mariscal Sucre Air Base in Quito, during go-around after missed approach.
November 25, 1975: C-130H 203/4X-FBO of the Israeli Defense Force/Air Force crashed into mountain Jebel Halal, 55 kilometers south-southeast of El Arish, Egypt. Pilots were Shaul Bustan and Uri Manor.[37]
Italy
edit
March 3, 1977: C-130H MM61996 of the Italian Air Force (46 Aerobrigata), crashed into Monte Serra, 15 kilometers east of Pisa, Italy.
September 17, 1999: C-130A 3610 of the Mexican Air Force crashed into mountains, 80 kilometers northeast of Mexico City, Mexico.
July 26, 2011: C-130H CNA-OQ of the Royal Moroccan Air Force crashed in southern Morocco, in a mountainous area near the city of Guelmim with 78 fatalities.[43
July 15, 1966: C-130B 24142 of the Pakistan Air Force (6 Squadron) crashed into mountain in Pakistan. All ten aboard killed.[46]
December 16, 1993: C-130H 4761 of the Philippine Air Force (222 Squadron), crashed into Mount Manase, 250 kilometers southeast of Manila during descent towards Naga Airport.
Spain
edit
May 28, 1980: C-130H T.10-1 of the Spanish Air Force (Escuadrón 311) crashed into mountain in central Gran Canaria.
October 19, 1968: C-130E, 17949 of the Turkish Air Force crashed into mountain on approach to Akhisar AB, Manisa, Turkey. Seven crew killed.
October 19, 1968: C-130E, 17949 of the Turkish Air Force crashed into mountain on approach to Akhisar AB, Manisa, Turkey. Seven crew killed.
.
Exact date unknown, c.1962 US C-130 crashed in Iran along the Iran-Turkey-Soviet Union border in the Zagros Mountains,[85] bodies and classified material recovered by US Army Special Forces under command of Lauri Törni, who "led his detachment onto the highest mountain in Iran" in the recovery operation.[86][87]
March 8, 1962:
C-130A 56-0546, c/n 3154, of the 40th Troop Carrier Squadron, 322d Air Division, crashed into mountain peak near Nairobi, Kenya in bad weather after it descended under given altitude. Six crew and seven passengers killed.
MC-130H Combat Talon II 87-0127 of the USAF (7th Special Operations Squadron, 352d Special Operations Group, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom), departed Tirana-Rinas Airport, Albania, for a night training mission to work on terrain-following and avoidance skills, airdrops and landing using night-vision goggles. The aircraft was flying 300 feet above the mountainous terrain when it was approaching a ridge. The airplane was not able to clear the ridge and stalled as the crew attempted to climb away. The aircraft struck the ridge, destroying the aircraft and killing all nine crew members on board.

" final retirement in the UK was marked with an impressive flypast tour. On June 14th, 2023, three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft flew an all-day route from RAF Brize Norton, covering a large part of the UK."

"Norwegian and Swedish authorities have launched investigations into the cause of a 15 March crash which killed all five crew members on board one of the Royal Norwegian Air Force's Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transports
.... Wreckage is scattered over a large area, including in a fresh avalanche zone beneath the impact point.

"The accident is still a mystery to us," Bruun-Hansen says. "The C-130J Hercules" Another crash near mountain.

Did you read what I wrote? I specifically mentioned C-130J losses, not C-130 losses as a whole.

Now, to date, some 364 C-130s (all variants) and L-100s have been lost. Of these, some 68 were direct wartime losses (shot down), 12 were lost to mid-air or on-ground collisions to other aircraft, 3 were lost to being struck with lightning, and 80 or so were lost to CFIT (controlled flight into terrain, so mostly pilot error). A further 34 have been attributed to runway excursions. You then have around 40 accidents that came as a result of operations in hostile areas (such as operating at very low altitudes, etc). Finally, there are some 9 aircraft lost to wake turbulence, and a further 60 accidents that were the result of in-flight breakups. A further 30-ish accidents are attributed to improper handling of the aircraft beyond operational parameters (such as attempting a three-engine takeoff for an overloaded aircraft). The causes of the remaining 34 losses are unknown.

Therefore, in the extreme scenario, the losses attributable to the C-130 design itself are the 60 in-flight breakups plus 34 other losses plus, let's say, 30-ish CFIT losses (going by the average ratio of pilot error to mechanical error causes for CFIT incidents). That comes to a grand total of 124 losses, which against a production run of over 2,600 aircraft, comes to just under 5%.

A loss rate of 5% is pretty decent for an aircraft that has been in service for almost 70 years. Moreover, if you look at those losses, a lot of them happened in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, and these flaws were subsequently rectified in future variants of the aircraft. This is evident when you realise that just 4 C-130Js have been lost to date out of a production run of almost 550, and of those 4, none was due to the aircraft itself.

Try to be more objective next time, for else if you start including wartime losses and other such things, then the best aircraft in the world would be one that never progresses past the prototyping stage.

 

[Anant]

1965 war, 1971 war, and so many sanction., terrorism in Punjab and kashmir. You need your drug use ss you are too illiterate.

Resorting to insults and allegations again, are we? Right, here goes:

1. 1962 War: The US and UK actively sold munitions to India, and pushed for a ceasefire.
2. 1965 War: The US embargoed arms sales to both sides. If India wasn't getting armament, neither was Bhikaristan.
3. 1971 War: The US was diplomatically on Bhikaristan's side, but part of that was also due to India's then-Soviet leanings. Regardless, sanctions weren't placed.
4. Kargil War: The US again stopped GPS access to both sides.
5. Terrorism in J&K: You should thank the Bhikaristanis for that rather than the Americans. While the Americans might have known, atleast to an extent, the fact that funds given by them to other nations have been redirected on so many occasions also shows they really didn't bother to check.