Lockheed Martin delivered the first of five C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical airlifters to the Indonesian Air Force (IDAF) during a ceremony here today, commemorating a new era in Hercules operations for this longtime C-130 operator. Indonesia has operated C-130s since the 1960s, using its Hercules fleet for critical national and regional missions such as delivering humanitarian aid and disaster relief, as well as providing military and peacekeeping support around the Pacific Rim. The C-130B’s were reinforced with second-hand L-100s and C-130Hs in the eighties. The whole, some twenty Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, is aging and must be replace soon. Externally similar to the classic Hercules in general appearance, the J-model features considerably updated technology.
“Indonesian Air Force crews have long trusted the C-130 to support the most challenging of missions facing Indonesia and other nations in the Pacific,” said Rod McLean, vice president and general manager, Air Mobility & Maritime Missions programs at Lockheed Martin. “This new era of Super Hercules operations supports Indonesia in achieving mission success with a highly tailored airlift fleet that ensures IDAF crews can support any task — anywhere, anytime — with more power, strength and capability for decades to come.”
The Indonesian Air Force had confirmed plans to buy additional Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical transport aircraft. During his visit to Lockheed Martin’s C-130J production site in Marietta, US state of Georgia, the Indonesian Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo was photographed next to a C-130J-30 (construction number 382-5951) cockpit section bearing the Indonesian flag an indication that production of at least one aircraft is ongoing. The Indonesian Air Force ‘s new C-130J-30s offer increased cargo capacity, speed, range, power, performance and lower operating costs over its legacy C-130s to support the IDAF’s wide range of mission requirements for decades to come. These new C-130J-30s expand the IDAF’s ability to partner on missions and training opportunities with allies and regional forces that also operate Super Hercules.
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. The cargo compartment is approximately 41 feet (12.5 m) long, 9 feet (2.74 m) high, and 10 feet (3.05 m) wide, and loading is from the rear of the fuselage. The C-130J is the newest version of the C-130 Hercules and the only model in production. 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 C-130J Super Hercules is the worldwide choice in tactical airlift, serving 26 operators in 22 nations. To date, more than 520 C-130Js have been delivered and the Super Hercules remains unmatched in its ability to support 18 different mission requirements.
