The US Air Force is finalising acceptance paperwork for its first Lockheed Martin C-130J transports, following the successful completion of utility flight tests.
Tests included drops of heavy equipment weighing up to 19,000kg (42,000lb), parachute drops of up to 53 jumpers and operations from short and improvised airstrips.
"The basic requirements for deliveries to start have been completed and we're now working on the transfer documents," says Lockheed Martin.
About 10 C-130Js are awaiting delivery to the USAF, Air National Guard and Reserve. WC-130J weather reconnaissance and EC-130J command post versions will be retained for modifications. Further Air Force tests planned for 1999 include qualification testing and evaluation, high altitude low opening drops and ramp jumps.
Meanwhile, acting Air Force secretary Whitten Peters has ruled out any accelerated procurement of the C-130J to bridge an order shortfall and avoid a threatened temporary shut down of the production line at Marietta. US military orders total 35 through to 1999, but the air force will not purchase its next two transports before 2002, a further two in 2003 and will only increase this to eight by 2004 and 10 in 2005.
The manufacturer had earlier warned that a production stoppage could impact on the cost of the Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 fighter, which shares the Marietta facility's overheads with the C-130J (Flight International, 9-15 December 1998).
Lockheed Martin has warned that earnings for 1998 will be lower than anticipated. It blames delayed C-130J deliveries and space launches, and lower sales in its commercial space businesses. Fourth quarter earnings will be down by about 10% over the same period last year, and up just 2-4% for the year, the company says.
Source: Flight International
