Indian Air Force takes delivery of first C-130J super Hercules for Black Cats' transport

The Indian Air Force (IAF) took delivery of the first of its stretched fuselage C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft from Lockheed Martin at a ceremony in Marietta, Georgia, USA. The Indian Air Force has ordered six C-130Js under a $1.2 billion order under the United States' Foreign Military Sale program, in late 2008. This order was the first of several orders placed on US vendors for a variety of aircraft.

Video of first flight below the fold.

Equipped with Rolls Royce AE2100 engines and Dowty six bladed propellers, three aircraft are already in flight testing while three are in final stages of construction. KC-3801, the first of six C-130J Hercules, made its first flight, at Marietta, Georgia, USA on October 4th.

Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin’s vice president for C-130 Programs touched upon the motto of the IAF - Touch the sky with glory, and welcomed the fourth largest air force in the world as an operator of the C130.

Ordered in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai debacle when the NSG (Black Cats) commandos could not be transported from Delhi to Mumbai in time, the IAF version of the C-130J Super Hercules is a highly integrated and sophisticated configuration primarily intended to support India’s special operations and counter-terrorism requirements.

Equipped with a Forward Looking Infra-red (FLIR) AAQ-22 Star Safire III sensor turret, the aircraft can operate in complete darkness. The C-130J's are also equipped with self-protection systems and other features are included to ensure aircraft survivability in hostile environments and with air-to-air receiver refuelling capability for extended range operations.

The sale package being provided by the U.S. government and Lockheed Martin is comprehensive and includes six aircraft, training of aircrew and maintenance technicians, spares, ground support and test equipment, servicing carts, forklifts, loading vehicles, cargo pallets and a team of technical specialists who will be based in India during a three-year initial support period. Also included in the package is India-unique operational equipment designed to increase Special Operations capabilities.

The first two C-130Js will be flown to India early next year, followed by the remaining four aircraft deliveries later in 2011. The fleet will be based at Hindon Air Force Station just outside the national capital New Delhi.

Video of first flight

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Images: Indian Air Force Lockheed Martin C130J makes first flight

KC-3801, the first of six stretched fuselage Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force, made its first flight, at Marietta, Georgia, USA on October 4th.

Along with these pictures, Lockheed Martin released a simple statement

The first of six C-130J Super Hercules for India took to the skies for its maiden flight yesterday. The aircraft will now complete a series of company and customer flight tests prior to delivery in December. The second and third aircraft are due to fly within the next few weeks.

All images © Lockheed Martin

Signed back in 2007, the $962 million Super Hercules contract was the first major defence deal between India and United States. These aircraft are expected to be used by the special forces of India like the Black Cats, and will be equipped with a Forward Looking Infra-red (FLIR) AAQ-22 Star Safire III sensor turret which permits operations in complete darkness as well as an in-flight refuelling probe.

The United States and Boeing are looking forward to close another deal with the Indian Air Force later this year, when President Obama visits India, for a proposed fleet of ten Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft, a deal expected to be valued around $4.4~$5.6 billion.

The C-17 procurement will be the second procurement by Indian armed forces from Boeing. The Indian Navy signed a $2.2 billion contract in January 2009, to procure eight of an Indian variant of the Boeing P-8a Poseidon called the P-8I. The P-8I is maritime patrol and anti submarine warfare aircraft based on the Boeing 737 commercial aircraft platform.

Both Lockheed Martin (F-16IN SuperViper) and Boeing (F/A-18 SuperHornet) are also competing with vendors across the globe for the $5.5+ billion Indian Air Forces Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) tender which should be finalised in 2011.

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Death toll rises to 79 in Indonesian Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules crash

An Indonesian Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules carrying 98 passengers and 14 crew on a regular flight from the capital, Jakarta, to the eastern most province of Papua crashed in a rice field at about 06:20 (23:20-1 GMT) in Geplak village and burst into flames crashed into several homes and burst into flames Wednesday, killing at least 79 people, including two on the ground.

Nineteen survivors have been rescued and transported to hospital. Recovery of badly burnt bodies continues and we can expect the death toll to increase. Local television is reported to be flashing footage of fire engulfed mangled wreckage.

The aircraft was transporting troops and their families, including at least 10 children, when it tumbled from the sky near an air force base in East Java province smashing in to a row of houses in Geplak village, killing three on the ground, before skidding into a rice field. Large chunks of the wreckage lie strewn across the paddy fields and bordering bushes.

It was not clear what caused the crash, but several witnesses described hearing a large explosion while it was still in the air and then seeing it split apart.

The Indonesian Air Force is still recovering from the crippling effects of sanctions and low budget allocations. This is the second fatal accident involving their planes in recent weeks. Just 5 weeks earlier, on April 6, a Fokker F-27 crashed and burst into flames in West Java’s capital, Bandung, killing all 24 officers on board.

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