![]() ![]() The aircraft is capable of operating from rough, dirt strips and is the prime transport for paradropping troops and equipment into hostile areas. Watch this space.The C-130 Hercules primarily performs the intratheater portion of the airlift mission. In a nutshell, if Ulmer’s comments are accurate, it would appear Defence is seeking a tactical AAR capability to support platforms it does not yet have, or is yet to announce. Is the A400M part of the discussions? Yes.” “Are there discussions with the Australian Government? Of course, yes,” Dumont told ADM. ![]() The Royal Malaysian Air Force has in the past deployed one of its A400Ms to Australia to support a deployment of F/A-18D Hornets.Īirbus Defence and Space Head of Military Aircraft Jean-Brice Dumont overnight confirmed discussions with Defence. It is also worth noting that both the Airbus A400M and Embraer KC-390 Milennium are also able to perform the AAR role for both fixed and rotary wing receivers. Interestingly, there was no mention of the KC-130J or AAR capability in Defence’s response, despite ADM’s specific question regarding why the RAAF may be seeking a tactical tanker. “The decision on down-scoping options is a government decision. “As part of this process to inform future fleet planning, Defence has sought information from industry on medium air mobility aircraft options from Lockheed Martin, Airbus, Embraer and Kawasaki. “Defence is currently exploring options to replace the C-130J Hercules which will reach its 30-year life of type in FY 2030/2031,” a Defence spokesperson said. Please contact the RAAF with specific questions regarding its tactical airlift needs.”įor its part Defence said it is talking with a number of manufacturers and decision has not yet been made. Lockheed Martin is proud to partner with the RAAF in meeting its tactical airlift needs, standing ready to support the RAAF with its current Super Hercules fleet and in meeting future mission requirements. From having the distinction of being the first global C-130 operators in 1958 to operating one of the largest C-130J Super Hercules fleets in the world today, RAAF Hercs have long-served Australia in supporting national, regional and global mission requirements. “The RAAF is one of the most active and visible C-130 Hercules operators in the world. “Force Structure Plan 2020 has identified a future need for more air lift and more air-to-air refuelling, and subsequently allocated future projects to deliver these capacity increases.”ĭespite Ulmer’s comments to international media at a public event, Lockheed Martin did not respond to ADM’s request for an interview to clarify the remarks, instead providing the following statement: “Defence provides airlift capacity in response to a range of military and civil requirements,” AIRMSHL Hupfeld said. Speaking to ADM during his From the Source interview in our February issue, Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld may have provided more clues. ![]() The Australian Army’s helicopter fleets are not equipped with an AAR probe either and reference to the KC-130J by Ulmer may therefore signal additional ADF acquisition programs. The largest user of the KC-130J is the US Marine Corps, which conducts AAR operations for vertical lift (MV-22B Osprey and CH-53E Sea Stallion) assets and Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II short-take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) fighters for expeditionary combat missions. With the retirement of the ‘classic’ Hornet this week (see story elsewhere), the only current ADF aircraft able to refuel from a KC-130J are the RAAF’s F/A-18F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers. The KC-130J is a tactical tanker, lacking both the speed and fuel offload capability of the RAAF’s current Airbus KC-30A tanker fleet and can also only refuel receivers which are fitted with a probe. However, Ulmer’s specific mention of six KC-130Js – which are dedicated air-to-air refuelling variants of the Hercules – is interesting. The FSP 2020 document allocates up to $13.2 billion to replace the RAAF’s existing 12 C-130J-30 aircraft and expand the fleet under Air 7404, with funding to begin in 2029. The C-130J-30s could be seen as a solution to the RAAF’s requirement for a replacement medium airlift capability forecast by the recent Force Structure Plan. ![]() “They are talking to us about potential for 24 C-130J-30s and six KC-130Js,” Ulmer told overseas journalists. Speaking at the Dubai Air Show in mid-November, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Executive Vice President Greg Ulmer said that the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has requested details for the supply of 30 C-130J Hercules. ![]()
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