India gets first of six Super Hercules airlifters

Friday December 17, 2010 11:31:19 AM, Arun Kumar, IANS

Washington: The first of India's six C-130J Super Hercules airlifters, considered the world's most advanced transport aircraft, purchased from the US in a $1 billion deal has been delivered to the Indian Air Force.

The first plane was received at a ceremony at manufacturer Lockheed Martin's Marietta, Georgia, facility Thursday by the Indian Defence & Military Attache Brigadier Bhupesh Kumar Jain and Air Attache Air Commodore J.S. Walia.

"There are few mottos that impart such passion as that of the Indian Air Force, which is 'Touch the Sky With Glory'," said Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin's vice president for C-130 Programmes.

"Today begins a new glorious, enduring partnership with India as the fourth largest air force in the world proudly joins the worldwide C-130 family."

Two of the planes will be flown to India in early 2011, while two more will arrive in early summer and the last two will be delivered in late summer of 2011.

Two other aircraft are in flight test prior to deliveries and three more have now reached the final production positions at the Lockheed Martin Marietta facility.

India's six stretched-fuselage C-130J-30s would provide the Indian Army and Indian Air Force "new special operations capabilities using the world's most advanced airlifter", according to Lockheed.

Equipped with India-unique operational equipment, including an infrared detection set (IDS), the aircraft for the first time will provide the IAF an ability to conduct precision low-level flying operations, airdrops and landings in blackout conditions.

The C-130J primarily performs the tactical portion of an airlift mission. The aircraft is capable of operating from rough, dirt strips and is the prime transport for air dropping troops and equipment into hostile areas.

The flexible design of the Super Hercules enables it to be configured for many different missions, allowing for one aircraft to perform the role of many. Much of the special mission equipment added to the Super Hercules is removable, allowing the aircraft to quickly switch between roles.

The C-130J Super Hercules, a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft, is a comprehensive update of the venerable Lockheed C-130 Hercules, with new engines, flight deck, and other systems.

The aircraft can also be configured with the "enhanced cargo handling system". The system consists of a computerised loadmaster's station from where the user can remotely control the under floor winch.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)
 

                                           Home | Top of the Page

Top Stories

India, China reject rivalry, seek strategic consensus

Rejecting any rivalry between them as they become emerging powers on the global stage, India and China Thursday agreed to address contentious issues that have been a source of bilateral friction, set an ambitious trade  »

Hopes of fresh impetus to ties as PM, Wen begin talks

India, China ink six pacts, activate hotline between PMs

  Most Read

MP Cong leader supports Digvijay, demands probe into life threats to Karkare

Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee’s Minority Department president Haji Mohammad Haroon has demanded high level probe into life threats to slain Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare by Hindutva forces   »

America and challenge of Islam

Akbar Ahmad who teaches in American University, Washington D.C. and holds Ibn Khalladun Chair of Islamic Studies and is author of several well known books has come out with field study of American Muslims. This book will go a long way to break many myths about Islam, Muslims and America.[1] This book is based on field   »

  News Pick

Indian Army remembers fallen heroes of 1971 Battle of Basantar

The Indian Army Thursday remembered its fallen heroes in the 1971 war with Pakistan by celebrating a hard-won victory in a fierce tank battle of Basantar in western sector. The next of kin »

Safety Matter: Gurgaon women get exclusive autos

The women in this satellite town of the national capital who use public transport can now feel safe as the police have started exclusive autorickshaws for women. These autos will be pink coloured so that they can be   »

Students shiver as winter schooling begins in Kashmir

Winter schooling has started in nearly 650 schools of Kashmir Valley, but the lack of heating arrangements in these institutions is worrying parents as most students are shivering their way through the classes. "It was  »

A moving biography of Prophet Muhammad

A new English biography of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), titled "The Soul of the Desert" has been published in an epic but fascinating form, narrating the life of the last Messenger of God from his birth to death   »

103-year-old woman is Facebook's oldest user

Briton Lillian Lowe still logs on to Facebook at the grand old age of 103 - making her the oldest person in the world to have an account on the social networking website. The centenarian from Tenby, Pembrokeshire   »