C-130 News: UK spells out future investment for C-130J fleet

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The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is to invest GBP350 million (USD465 million) to keep its Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules transport fleet flying through to the type's recently revised out-of-service date (OSD) of 2030, the government disclosed on 5 September.

Answering questions in parliament, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, Harriett Baldwin, said the investment would be made to support the 14 of the 24 aircraft that were extended from 2022 to 2030 in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) 2015.

"The SDSR 2015 announced an OSD extension of 14 C-130J [C4 variant] aircraft from 2022 to 2030. This does not constitute an extension of the overall design life of the platform, but a revision of the Royal Air Force's [RAF's] planned OSD. During this period, it is currently estimated that, over and above annual support costs, approximately GBP200 million will be spent on key components to maintain the life of the aircraft and GBP150 million on upgrading the fleet with new capabilities," she said.

The C-130Js replaced the RAF's fleet of 66 C-130Ks, which were first introduced in 1966 and retired in 2013. Like their predecessor, the C130Js have seen high operational use in austere conditions, most notably in Afghanistan. This has taken a toll on the aircraft, especially in terms of centre wing-box fatigue, and it is highly likely that a portion of the GBP200 million that the MoD has earmarked for key components of the aircraft will be spent on either replacing or strengthening these critical structural elements.

Source: http://www.janes.com/article/63460/uk-spells-out-future-investment-for-c-130j-fleet

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