LOCKHEED EXPECTS to receive a contract for the first two US Air Force C-130J Hercules IIs in February. At about the same time, the company should receive a request for proposals from Australia for 12 stretched C-130J-30s.
Canada is also "very interested" in the aircraft, Lockheed says, but no order is expected before 1998 because of funding shortages.
The USAF plans to seek money in fiscal year 1996 to begin a C-130E-replacement programme, with C-130J deliveries starting in 1997. Australia wants seven aircraft in 1997 and five in 1998. Coupled with the UK launch order for 25 aircraft, Lockheed expects to build between 24 and 36 C-130Js in 1997, the first full year of production.
The first three, Royal Air Force and first two USAF aircraft, are already under construction and will be used for the certification test programme. The first aircraft, a RAF C-130J-30, will be rolled out in September and is expected to be flown, in mid-November.
Two aircraft will be delivered to the UK's Boscombe Down test centre in September 1996 and the first operational aircraft is due to arrive at RAF Lyneham six months later. Plans call for delivery of eight C-130Js in 1997 and eight in 1998, with the balance due in 1999.
Lockheed has agreed to buy back the RAF's older C-130Ks one-for-one as they are replaced by C-130Js. A similar offer will be made to Australia, which intends to replace its older C-130Es with C-130Js. The eventual contract may include an option for up to ten additional C-130Js for air-refueling-tanker and airborne-early-warning missions.
Source: Flight International
