On Jan. 15, 2018, the French Air Force – Armée de l’Air – welcomed its first C-130J at Orléans-Bricy Air Base. France will receive a total of four Super Hercules aircraft – two C-130J-30s and two KC-130J aerial refuelers.
There is no aircraft in aviation history — either developed or under development — that can match the flexibility, versatility and relevance of the C-130J Super Hercules. In continuous production longer than any other military aircraft, the C-130 has earned a reputation as a workhorse ready for any mission, anywhere, anytime.
The C-130J Super Hercules offers superior performance and new capabilities, with the range and flexibility for every theater of operations and evolving requirements. This rugged aircraft is regularly sent on missions in the harshest environments, and is often the first aircraft to touch down, usually on austere landing strips before any other transport to provide humanitarian relief after natural disasters.
With more than 1.2 million hours of flying combat, humanitarian, special operations, aerial refueling, firefighting, and search and rescue missions around the world, the C-130J stands ready for its next mission and for whatever the future holds.
The C-130J Super Hercules is the world’s most advanced tactical airlifter. Designed and developed with mission flexibility in mind, the C-130J has a unique mix of agility and performance to complete any mission, anytime, anywhere.
The C-130J airframe has proven it’s reliable, efficient and highly operational in harsh environments and combat theaters like Iraq and Afghanistan. This rugged aircraft is often the first aircraft “in,” touching down on austere landing zones before any other transport to provide humanitarian relief after natural disasters. Among its missions, the C-130J also counts capabilities as diverse as special ops, aerial refueling, close air support, search and rescue and personal recovery.
The focus on flexibility and multi-role, multi-mission capabilities can be traced back to the original C-130A, which was designed in response to a need for U.S. forces to tactically resupply troops on the front lines.
