Andrea Spinelli/GENOA
The Italian air force has signed its long-awaited deal with Lockheed Martin for the delivery of 18 C-130J Hercules 2 transports.
It is now considering a further order of C-130Js to meet an airborne-early-warning (AEW) requirement. At the same time, the US armed forces have ordered a further 14 of the aircraft.
The deal with the Italian Ministry of Defence is worth over L2,000 billion ($1.2 billion). The first aircraft is due to be delivered in mid-1999. Deliveries will run at up to three aircraft a year, with the final one arriving by the end of 2004.
The air force is also considering a follow-on order for four more aircraft to meet a requirement for an AEW capability. In response to continuing budget pressure, it is even possible that the final four C-130Js in the first order will be converted to the AEW role.
The new C-130Js will be assigned to the 46th Air Brigade, stationed at Pisa, to work alongside the existing 12 C-130Hs. The air force plans to start phasing out the older Hercules version by about 2010, with the last aircraft coming out of service by 2015.
By 2005, Italy's air-transport capability will be boosted dramatically to include 30 C-130 H/Js and 18 of the smaller Alenia G222 tactical transports. All the aircraft will be stationed at Pisa, although the force structure will be reversed from the current position of two G222 squadrons and one Hercules squadron to one G222 squadron and two of the Hercules.
To make room for the increase in aircraft numbers, Italian army-aviation units will be moved out and some of the G222s retired. The G222s and C-130Hs are both undergoing upgrades.
The purchase of the C-130Js and the related offset package still requires the approval of the Italian parliament.
Lockheed Martin has agreed a 100% offset package, most of which relates to the joint development and marketing, with Alenia, of the C-27J, a highly modified version G-222. The remaining 40% of the offset is directly related to the Hercules and is likely to lead to aerostructures and engine work for companies like Alenia and Fiat Avio.
Meanwhile, the latest US order includes six aircraft for weather reconnaissance and three for the US Marine Corps for use as in-flight refuelling aircraft. The new agreements with the USA and Italy bring total C-130J firm orders to 73.
The Royal Air Force is the launch customer, followed by Australia and the USA. The first, much-delayed, aircraft is scheduled to be delivered to the UK in February 1998.
Source: Flight International
