Air Force confirms $180 million deal for 4 Lockhead MC-130E from US.

[bd_4_ever]

Air Force to buy 4 US aircraft

In a bid to modernise the tactical transport aircraft fleet of the Air Force, Bangladesh will purchase four Lockheed MC-130Es from the United States at an estimated cost of $180 million.

According to the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the proposed sale would cover the "regeneration, overhaul, modification and logistics support" of the second-hand Hercules.

The package would also include 20 Rolls-Royce T56 engines to be provided as excess defence articles, plus training and other equipment and services associated with the upgrade.

DSCA notified the US Congress on May 22 of “a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Bangladesh to provide regeneration, overhaul, modification, and logistics support for four Lockheed Martin C-130Es and associated parts, equipment, and training for an estimated cost of $180 million.”

“The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by enabling the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) to use its C-130 fleet to respond more capably to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief needs in the region and support Bangladesh's significant contributions to United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, and support operations to counter violent extremist organisations.

“It will also improve the commonality and interoperability of the BAF and the US Air Force. The proposed sale of support will help to modernise the BAF's aging cargo aircraft fleet. The C-130E will provide Bangladesh with an improved capability for the movement of cargo and personnel in humanitarian missions,” said the Pacific Sentinel quoting DSCA.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region, it said adding “There will be no adverse impact on US defence readiness as a result of this proposed sale. This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.”

The prime contractor will be determined via competitive bid. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional US Government or contractor representatives to Bangladesh, the Pacific Sentinel said.

The Lockheed MC-130 is the basic designation for a family of special mission aircraft operated by the US Air Force Special Operations Command.

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=235482

 

[idune]

Now that is firm news and can be disscussed on.

 

[bd_4_ever]

^^

True. Anyways, what is the major difference between MC-130E and the C-130 that we have? Shed some light please.

 

[fallstuff]

These are dumb air planes. Why not Antonovs ?

 

[eastwatch]

These are dumb air planes. Why not Antonovs ?

You mean BAF officers are very dumb to select C-130E transport planes? Better post some information on these latest planes. BD has four old model C-130 planes already which are serving BAF without much trouble.

Factsheets : MC-130E/H Combat Talon I/II

MC-130E/H COMBAT TALON I/II

Posted 9/14/2011 Printable Fact Sheet

The first MC-130 H Combat Talon II to receive a new center wing box left Robins Friday to return to Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla. U. S. Air Force photo by Sue Sapp

The mission of the MC-130E Combat Talon I and MC-130H Combat Talon II is to provide global, day, night and adverse weather capability to airdrop and airland personnel and equipment in support of U.S. and allied special operations forces.

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- An MC-130E Combat Talon I arrived here in October to receive avionics modernization program upgrades. After undergoing several months of modifications, 418th Flight Test Squadron Airmen successfully performed the aircraft's first risk reduction flight on March 15. (U.S. Air Force photo)

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Senior Airman Payne provides guidance for a MC-130H Combat Talon II as it prepares to land here Sept. 17. The base is recovering from Hurricane Ivan and has yet to return to normal operations. Airman Payne is an air traffic controller assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kimberly Gilligan)

Mission
The MC-130E Combat Talon I and MC-130H Combat Talon II provide infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces and equipment in hostile or denied territory. Secondary missions include psychological operations and helicopter and vertical lift air refueling.

Features
Both aircraft feature terrain-following and terrain-avoidance radars capable of operations as low as 250 feet in adverse weather conditions. Structural changes to a basic C-130 include the addition of an in-flight refueling receptacle and strengthening of the tail to allow high speed/low-signature airdrop. Their navigation suites include dual ring-laser gyros, mission computers, and integrated global positioning system. They can locate and either land or airdrop on small, unmarked zones with pinpoint accuracy day or night.

An extensive electronic warfare suite enables the aircrew to detect and avoid potential threats. If engaged, the system will protect the aircraft from both radar and infrared-guided threats.

Both the MC-130E and MC-130H are equipped with aerial refueling pods to provide in-flight refueling of special operations forces and combat search and rescue helicopters and vertical lift assets.

The primary difference between the MC-130E and MC-130H involves the degree of integration of the mission computers and avionics suite. The Combat Talon I was conceived originally and developed during the 1960s, and although extensively upgraded in the 1980-90s it still features analog instrumentation and does not fully integrate the sensors and communications suites. The Combat Talon II, designed in the 1980s, features an integrated glass flight deck which improves crew coordination and reduces the crew complement by two.

Background
The MC-130E Combat Talon first flew in 1966 and saw extensive service in Southeast Asia, including the attempted rescue of Americans held at the Son Tay prisoner-of-war camp in 1970. Also, the MC-130E landed in the Iranian desert in April 1980 in support of Operation Eagle Claw, the attempt to rescue American hostages held by Iran.

The MC-130E saw combat in Grenada in 1983, delivering U.S. Army Rangers to Point Salinas Airfield in the opening moments of Operation Urgent Fury, and subsequently performing psychological operations leaflet drops. In 1989 they led the joint task force for Operation Just Cause in Panama, helping to seize the airfield at Rio Hato.

In 1990, MC-130Es were employed in Operation Desert Storm, where they dropped 11 BLU-82 15,000-pound bombs and more than 23 million leaflets in a highly effective effort to encourage Iraqi soldiers to surrender. They also conducted numerous aerial refuelings of special operations helicopters with combat search and rescue operations.

The MC-130H Combat Talon II first arrived at Hurlburt Field, Fla., June 29, 1992, and after acceptance testing, began official flying operations Oct. 17, 1992. Since then, the MC-130H has played a vital role in AFSOC operations. Some of the aircraft's highlights include the evacuations of non-combatant Americans and other civilians from conflicts in Liberia in 1996. Also, in 1998, a Combat Talon II aircrew was awarded the Mackay Trophy for the involvement in the evacuation of civilians from the Republic of the Congo (1997); and they participated in combat operations in the Balkans during Operation Allied Force.

In 2001, MC-130Hs were employed to seize an airfield in southern Afghanistan delivering U.S. Army Rangers to commence ground operations in Operation Enduring Freedom and later in 2003, the MC-130H was the first US aircraft to land at Bagdad International to initiate missions supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Since Oct 2001, both aircraft have been used extensively in Operations Enduring, Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines, and Iraqi Freedom in a variety of roles.

General Characteristics
Primary Function: Infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces
Contractor: Lockheed
Power Plant: Four Allison T56-A-15 turboprop engines
Thrust: 4,910 shaft horsepower each engine
Wingspan: 132 feet, 7 inches (40.4 meters)
Length:
MC-130E: 100 feet, 10 inches (30.7 meters)
MC-130H: 99 feet, 9 inches (30.4 meters)
Height: 38 feet, 6 inches (11.7 meters)
Speed: 300 mph
Load:
MC-130E: 53 troops, 26 paratroopers
MC-130H: 77 troops, 52 paratroopers or 57 litter patients
Ceiling: 33,000 feet (10,000 meters)
Maximum Takeoff Weight:155,000 pounds (69,750 kilograms)
Range: 2,700 nautical miles (4,344 kilometers); In-flight refueling extends this to unlimited range
Crew:
MC-130E: Two pilots, two navigators and an electronic warfare officer (officers); flight engineer, radio operator and two loadmasters (enlisted)
MC-130H: Two pilots, a navigator and electronic warfare officer (officers); flight engineer and two loadmasters (enlisted)
Date Deployed: MC-130E, 1966; MC-130H, June 1991
Unit Cost: MC-130E, $75 million; MC-130H, $155 million (fiscal 2001 constant dollars)
Inventory: Active force, MC-130H, 20; Reserve, MC-130E, 10; ANG, 0

Point of Contact
U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command, Public Affairs Office; 229 Cody Ave, Ste 103; Hurlburt Field FL 32544-5312; DSN 579-5515 or 850-884-5515

 

[eastwatch]

After all those talks of strategic partnership and BoB security, now it has turned out that the USA is after earning a few bucks from a poor BD by selling its excess military goodies. The four Hercules are old but will be refurbished as per BAF requirements. The $180 million price tag is for the 4 planes, 20 Rolls-Royce engnes and many other spare parts.

The engines seem not to be fitted in the Hercules. However, these will be fitted in some of the planes that we operate. If we assume the price of an engine is about 1/3rd of the price of a plane/car, then the price of each hercules becomes about $16.5 million/ea. The price of a new MC-130E is about $60 million. So, our purchase price is quite cheap.

$180 million is a big money. BAF and BN have a 2030 vision under which both these wings of the military will keep on purchasing hardwares from different sources including South Korea, USA, Russia and China. From Russia $850 million, from China $800 million and from USA we just do not know. It could be over a billion dollar.

 

[kobiraaz]

The Lockheed MC-130 is the basic designation for a family of special mission aircraft operated by the United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), a wing of the Air Education and Training Command, and an AFSOC-gained wing of the Air Force Reserve Command. Based on the C-130 Hercules transport, their mission is the infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces, and the air refueling of (primarily) special operations helicopter and tilt- rotor aircraft.

So these are capable of air refuelling of helicopters!

 

[Avisheik]

MC 130 is gonna be retired from the US air force soon and it was developed in 1965. Anyone know how old are the birds that we are gonna get?

The purchase of these four planes will greatly increase the strength of our para commando battlion.

 

[eastwatch]

MC 130 is gonna be retired from the US air force soon and it was developed in 1965. Anyone know how old are the birds that we are gonna get?

The purchase of these four planes will greatly increase the strength of our para commando battlion.

I think, you are making a mistake. If Hercules was developed in 1965, however, it does not mean all the aircrafts of this group were built in 1965. Rightly or wrongly, your comment suggests such a thing.

 

[Lighting_Fighter]

can there be any attack capability with these planes?

 

[TopCat]

can there be any attack capability with these planes?

Yes yu can use them as bomber

 

[Avisheik]

I think, you are making a mistake. If Hercules was developed in 1965, however, it does not mean all the aircrafts of this group were built in 1965. Rightly or wrongly, your comment suggests such a thing.

I do know that.

But i have doubts about the aircraft since there are many other modern variants of this aircraft, but we are getting the earliest version. Even with upgrades, it will have less capability than the newer versions. Anyway i want to know how old are the ones we are getting.

 

[Luftwaffe]

I do know that.

But i have doubts about the aircraft since there are many other modern variants of this aircraft, but we are getting the earliest version. Even with upgrades, it will have less capability than the newer versions. Anyway i want to know how old are the ones we are getting.

There is already a Thread on this subject opened before this Thread.

Currently C-130J is the most modern Variant, H Standards are fairly modern that Pakistan-Turkey and many other nations operating them. Turkey had cash to procure C-130J variants but still it went for RSAF C-130B/E to be upgraded to H standards good enough to fly till 2020.

C-130A/B/E/F/G/H/K/T Tactical Airlifter Basic Models, with Nations operating E/H Variants, USAF is still operating 250 C-130H Standards though in coming Years many E/H will be replaced by J but it will take a fair time for the replacement so you guys need not worry post 2020 BAF may-should go for C-130J as many Air Force would, better make-collect-reserve funds and procure at the right time right equipment so far E/H are perfect fit.

 

[Major Shaheb]

Thats a good news...

 

[Major Shaheb]

There is already a Thread on this subject opened before this Thread.

Currently C-130J is the most modern Variant, H Standards are fairly modern that Pakistan-Turkey and many other nations operating them. Turkey had cash to procure C-130J variants but still it went for RSAF C-130B/E to be upgraded to H standards good enough to fly till 2020.

C-130A/B/E/F/G/H/K/T Tactical Airlifter Basic Models, with Nations operating E/H Variants, USAF is still operating 250 C-130H Standards though in coming Years many E/H will be replaced by J but it will take a fair time for the replacement so you guys need not worry post 2020 BAF may-should go for C-130J as many Air Force would, better make-collect-reserve funds and procure at the right time right equipment so far E/H are perfect fit.

C-130J is an extended range Tactical Transport Aircraft having a range way over 5000km. We really do not need anything like that. C-130E/H is good enough for us with 3000+km range.