The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Egypt of C-130J-30 Super Hercules Aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $2.2 billion. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally that continues to be an important strategic partner in the Middle East. The proposed sale will improve Egypt’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing airlift support for its forces by moving supplies, equipment, and people, thus strengthening its capacity in the security and humanitarian arena. Egypt, which already operates a mix of legacy C-130s, will have no difficulty absorbing these aircraft and services into its armed forces.
The Government of Egypt has requested to purchase twelve (12) C-130J Super Hercules aircraft with four (4) each Rolls Royce AE-2100D Turboprop Engines (installed); twelve (12) Rolls Royce AE-2100D Turboprop Engines (spares); thirty (30) Embedded GPS/INS (EGI) with GPS Security Devices (including 6 spares); and seven (7) Multifunctional Information Distribution System – Low Volume Terminal Block Upgrade Two (MIDS-LVT BU2) (including 3 spares). Also included are AN/APX-119 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Transponders; AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning Systems (MWS); AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispensing System (CMDS); AN/ALR-56M Radar Warning Receiver (RWR); AN/AAQ-22 (STAR SAFIRE 380); aircraft support and equipment. The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Marietta, GA. There are no known offsets proposed in conjunction with this potential sale.
The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. The C-130J is a comprehensive update of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, with new engines, flight deck, and other systems. Externally similar to the classic Hercules in general appearance, the J-model features considerably updated technology.
These differences include new Rolls-Royce AE 2100 D3 turboprop engines with Dowty R391 composite scimitar propellers, digital avionics (including head-up displays (HUDs) for each pilot), and reduced crew requirements. These changes have improved performance over its C-130E/H predecessors, such as 40% greater range, 21% higher maximum speed, and 41% shorter takeoff distance. The J-model is available in a standard-length or stretched -30 variant.
The C-130J is the newest version of the C-130 Hercules and the only model in production. The largest operator of the new model is the U.S. Air Force, which has ordered the aircraft in increasing numbers. Current operators of the C-130J are the USAF (including the Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard), United States Marine Corps (being their fourth variant after KC-130F, KC-130R and KC-130T,) United States Coast Guard, Royal Air Force, Indian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Danish Air Force, Royal Norwegian Air Force, Israeli Air Force, and the Italian Air Force. By July 2021, 450 C-130J were delivered with 26 operators in 22 countries.
