The Royal Air Force is being forced to keep operating at least five Lockheed Martin C-130Ks Hercules originally due to be retired from service during 1997 because of a delay of at least 12 months in the delivery of the first of 25 replacement C-130Js.
Five aircraft initially due for withdrawal from service, say sources close to the project, are being returned for additional maintenance work by private contractor Marshall Aerospace.
Bill Bernstein, the Lockheed Martin C-130J project manager, admits: "We know we are late and that we have caused problems for our customer."
He adds that Lockheed Martin is now talking to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) about coming up with a "realistic delivery schedule". The company is reluctant to give dates for a revised schedule, saying only that the first aircraft could be delivered in late 1997 or early 1998.
Bernstein says that several technical issues have contributed to the programme delays. They include unexpected stall characteristics at high angle of attack at low air speeds, while the interaction between the wing and the more-powerful Allison AE2100 engines and six-bladed Dowty propellers has led to the introduction of a "stick pusher".
Despite reports that Lockheed Martin will have to pay compensation to the MoD, Bill Bullock, president of the company's Aeronautical Systems unit, says that no discussions have yet taken place with the MoD on the issue.
Irrespective of the delivery delays, Lockheed Martin says that it is well ahead of its planned industrial participation levels, with its C-130J Industry Support Group having garnered some £295 million ($478 million) work so far as a result of the programme.
Lockheed Martin is hoping to concluded soon the sale of the C-130J to Italy, with a possible announcement at the Paris air show, while the Royal Norwegian Air Force is also looking at purchasing the aircraft.
Source: Flight International
