Lockheed Martin (hall 2C) is offering to supply or lease new C-130J tactical transports to European nations involved in Airbus Military's delayed A400M programme, either through direct sales or via the US government's Foreign Military Sales mechanism.
"A number of the A400M countries have asked us what the delivery opportunities may be," says Jim Grant, vice-president C-130J business development. "We have the capability to build."
Ross Reynolds, vice-president C-130 programmes, adds: "The lead time on an aircraft is 30-36 months, depending on the configuration." But he notes that Norway acquired its first example within just 13 months of reaching a government-to-government agreement to obtain aircraft originally intended for delivery to the US Air Force.
The message to potential new C-130J customers is straightforward: let's talk. "Opportunities continue to be here in Europe and with the US services," says Reynolds. "And the Middle East, Africa and Pacific rim are also going to be excellent opportunities."
Lockheed is ramping up the production rate for the C-130J at its Marietta site in Georgia, increasing deliveries from 12 in 2008 to 16 this year and 24 in 2010. "But our tooling can support 36 a year, and surge higher," Reynolds says.
Eleven nations have so far signed contracts for a combined total of 263 C-130Js, and Lockheed has delivered 175 of these. Its first examples for Canada and India will roll off its production line next year. The global fleet has now logged more than 500,000 flight hours since entering service, starting in 2002.
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Source: Flight Daily News
