Jansen

LONG BEACH, Calif., April 18, 2011 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced today that the Commonwealth of Australia has signed an agreement with the U.S. government to acquire a fifth Boeing C-17 Globemaster III airlifter. The Foreign Military Sale allows the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to expand its C-17 fleet as it faces an increased demand for humanitarian and disaster relief missions.

RAAF C-17s supported relief efforts to earthquake- and tsunami-affected regions in Japan under Operation PACIFIC ASSIST for nearly two weeks in March. The RAAF delivered personnel and more than 1 million pounds of cargo -- including food and water, vehicles, disaster relief equipment, and pumps to help cool the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Weeks earlier, the RAAF supported relief efforts in Christchurch, New Zealand, following an earthquake there, and to several communities in Queensland, Australia, that were affected by flooding.

"Boeing thanks the RAAF, a C-17 customer since 2006, for its confidence in the airlifter's capabilities," said Bob Ciesla, C-17 program manager for Boeing. "We salute the RAAF and its crews, who helped save lives in Japan, Australia and New Zealand. We are proud to serve as their partner."

Due to the RAAF's immediate need for an additional airlifter, the U.S. Air Force has approved Australia’s request to take delivery of its fifth C-17 in August. The airlifter will be assigned to RAAF Base Amberley’s 36 Squadron, near Brisbane.

The C-17 can transport large payloads across vast ranges, land on short, austere runways, and operate in extreme climates. It is the only airlifter that possesses both tactical and strategic capabilities. Boeing provides support to the RAAF's C-17s through the C-17 Globemaster III Sustainment Partnership, a Performance-Based Logistics program that includes an extensive support network.

KC-3803 (5640) was spotted flying in to Athens on 12 April.

More likely than not, the the CT3 will replace the MC-130Es, all of which are 47+ years old. We're good, airframe-wise, for another few years (2015-ish) but we can't go much more than that without big money from AFSOC to extend the life of the Combat Talon. AFSOC has the opportunity to acquire new iron--they'd be foolish to dump that much money into an airplane that will be more than fifty in a few years. T-2s have a lot more 'life' left in them without major rework, so I expect they will be around for quite a while yet.

Is there some capability the CT1 has that cannot be filled by the CS2? Previous articles and speeches by AFSOC have indicated that the ten CT1s in service will be replaced by the CS2.

He's referring to the MC-130J Combat Talon III that will replace MC-130H Talon IIs.

Not for another fifteen years or so...the first MC-130H didn't enter service until 1991.

Because the Talon IIIs are coming later ...

Well, that was the old MC-130P Combat Shadow, which was really just a renamed HC-130P. The new MC-130J Combat Shadow II is more in line with the Combat Talons, not sure why they didn't call it the Combat Talon III.

The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has exercised one of its USG approved options for a C-130J-30, bringing their total orders up to two. Israel plans to eventually acquire nine C-130J-30 "Shimshon" aircraft for special operations. First delivery is planned for mid-2013.

http://www.defense.gov/contracts/contract.aspx?contractid=4509

"Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Ga., is being awarded a $76,223,319 fixed-price contract modification, not-to-exceed (NTE) option exercise for the acquisition of a second C-130J-30 aircraft for the government of Israel and to exercise the NTE option for planning and advance long lead procurement of aircraft components to support the third C-130J Israeli aircraft. This undefinitized contract action also includes on-development peculiars and recurring in-line production modifications for the second aircraft to include but not limited to the following: Block 6X Operational Flight Program, enhanced service life wing, two embedded Global Positioning System Inertial Navigation System Embedded Module IV with Precise Positioning System and GAS-1 controlled radiation pattern antenna and universal aerial refueling receptacle slipway installation. Location of performance is Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Ga. 657 AESS, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8625-11-C-6597)."

The IDF requested the following in 2008, but has faced resistance from USG:

9 Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 United States Air Force (USAF) baseline aircraft including USAF baseline equipment and Block 7.0 Software. This implies the inclusion of engines, defensive equipment, etc.

6 Rolls Royce AE 2100D3 spare engines (implies 36 engines included in C-130J-30s)

9 of BAE’s AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning Systems (includes 3 spares)

9 of BAE’s AN/ALR-56M Advanced Radar Warning Receivers (includes 3 spares)

9 of ATK’s AN/ALE-47 Counter-Measures Dispensing Systems (includes 3 spares)

9 of FLIR Systems’ AN/AAQ-22 Star SAFIRE III Special Operations Suites (includes 3 spares). This is a day/night surveillance and laser targeting turret.

4 spare AN/ARC-210 Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems (SINCGARS)

10 spare Secure Voice Very High Frequency/Ultra High Frequency Radios

4 spare Secure Voice High Frequency Radios

3 spare AN/AAR-222 SINCGARS and Key Gen (KV-10) Systems

1 KIV-119 Non-standard Communication/COMSEC equipment

2 ARC-210 Non-standard Communication/COMSEC equipment

10 External Pylons and Fuel Tanks

5 Internal Israeli Tank Modification Kits

Isn't there a line move scheduled for today?

The March 2011 issue of "PROVEN: News from the World of the C-130" is now available. Coverage includes a couple of MC-130J articles, some Hercules operations in Libya, the first Canadian jumps from a Jay herk, an article on Maj. Timothy Townsend of the 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, the STRAY 59 crash, and more.

Link: http://cc-130j.ca/publications-en/

I had what I believe to be KC-3803 pass by my SBS box in Nova Scotia yesterday, April 8th so looks like it might indeed be on a delivery flight. Can anyone possibly confirm the hex code tie-up, I had code AE2737 which nicely matches AE2736 which I believe to be KC-3802 which I also had on it's delivery flight a while ago. Never did "See" KC-3801 however.

Here is a full list of Hercules hex codes: http://www.herkybirds.com/showthread.php?2804-Hercules-Hex-Codes

KC-3801 still not delivered.

KC-3803 still at Prestwick 11 April 2011.

Lockheed Martin is being awarded a $21,400,000 contract modification for MC-130J increment three. The overall scope of this effort is to add the C-130J Block 7.0 upgrades and a special mission processor capability that include both developmental and integration of known/low risk improvements. The MC-130J unique increment three effort includes non-recurring engineering to develop one trial kit installation and developmental test of the increment three capability on one MC-130J increment two aircraft. The ASC/WLNNC, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8625-11-C-6597 PO0002).

Block 7.0 primarily addresses mandated Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) requirements. Block 7.0 is an international collaboration as the common core development costs are being shared by each participating nation (United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Canada, Denmark, Norway, and the United States). Block 7.0 requirements include:

a) Communication, Navigation & Identification (CNI) upgrades

Dual Multi-Mode Receivers (MMR)

c) CNI special processor upgrade

d) Tactical datalink

e) Mission computer upgrades

The Fulton system was probably the most distinctive exterior addition. For more information, the Wikipedia article is probably your best source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_MC-130

Here is a link from 06 April 2011, showing KC-3805 (5654) in flight test.

It is supposed to be 78 HC-130Js and 37 MC-130Js, for a program total of 115. Not all have been authorized or funded.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/10/07/333174/lockheed-starts-building-new-version-of-the-c-130j.html

What exactly is the MC-130J replacing at Cannon?

I believe it is a new capability. 27 SOW already has Dragon Spears there, so I think it is more logistics than anything else.

Why a requirement for 37? Are they planning on replacing 10 AFRC MC-130E's wit the J's?

That's it exactly, Bob. The Combat Talon Is are far too old, and the mission availability rates are plummeting. That is why AFSOC wants the MC-130J out ASAP.

That was a really good one!

The C-130 is your basic trash-hauler, but the MC-130 is designed for special operations, specifically infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply. They are built from a KC-130 baseline, as they are required to refuel Blackhawks and Ospreys.

I am not as knowledgeable about the older Combat Talons, but my understanding is that they had the SOF wing added along with some upgraded generators.

AFSOC has publicly disclosed that the MC-130J adds an extended service life wing, an enhanced cargo handling system, a boom refuelling receptacle, an electro-optic/infrared sensor, a combat systems operator station on the flight deck and armor.

The MC-130J, Air Force Special Operations Command's newest aircraft, sits on the tarmac after its unveiling at Lockheed Martin in Marietta, Ga., March 29, 2011. The MC-130J is the newest aircraft in AFSOC's inventory. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Scott MacKay/RELEASED)

Well, the pictures should still be on the server, so it should be possible to load it from there. The only issue is that the attribution data may be lost.

211 is now in paint.

Any news on whether KC3801 has left Little Rock AFB on delivery to Hindon AFS yet?

Didn't know it was at LRF, but it was flying in the southern US on 31 March.

601, 605, 606, and 608 were spotted by Scramble.nl members at Prestwick (EGPK/PIK) on 23 March. Interesting to have 4 out of 8 active CC-130Js in one spot.

As you can see in the following picture, all four of the first MC-130Js are out of paint:

5656 09-6207

5657 09-6208

5658 09-6209

5659 09-6210

KC-3804 is in flight test as of 23 March 2011.

Picture: http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/585054L.html