India to get C-130J Super Hercules in December 2010

[Ruag]

Lockheed to Deliver Hercules In Dec, Expects More Tenders

NEW DELHI - American defense giant Lockheed Martin Feb 16 said it will deliver the first C-130J Hercules aircraft in December this year to the the Indian Air Force and expressed hope to receive Letter of Request (LOR) for six more planes.

“We are hoping to receive the LOR for providing six additional aircraft by this year but can’t say when,” Lockheed’s India Vice President Orville Prins said in the national capital.

He said the company was preparing for the delivery of the C-130J to the Indian Air Force and was ready to deliver the first aircraft in December this year, three months ahead of their planned induction in the first quarter of 2011.

In 2008, IAF had ordered six C-130Js for Special Forces, with an option for six more as follow on order.

Lockheed has already helped IAF to set up infrastructure for basing 12 C-130Js at its Hindan air base near here.

Talking further about the C-130J contract, Prins said the order includes three years of initial support, crew training and maintenance technicians, spares, ground support and test equipment, and a team of technical specialists who will be based in India during the three year initial support period.

Also included is India-unique operational equipment designed to increase Special Operations capabilities.

He added that several other departments including the Border Security Force, the Coast Guard and the weather department have shown interest in procuring the aircraft.
(PTI)

India Journal - South Asian News for Southern California

 

[brahmastra]

C-130J Super Hercules

IOC: 1999
Production: 190
Unitary Cost: USD$60 million

Also Known As
HC-130J (US Coast Guard variant)
Hercules II


Origin
United States of America


Contractor/s
Lockheed Martin

Family Members
AC-130U Spooky
C-130H Hercules
CC-130J Super Hercules
EC-130J Commando Solo
KC-130J Super Hercules
MC-130H Talon II
MC-130J
MC-130W Combat Spear
WC-130J

Power plant:
AE 2100D3 (4)

Sensors & Communications:
AN/APN-241
AN/ALR-56M

Protection Systems:
AAQ-24(V) LAIRCM
AN/ALE-55

Specifications
Accommodation: Crew 3, Passengers 64

Dimensions: Height 11.4 m, Length 29.3 m, Wingspan 39.7 m

Weights: Max Weight 70,308 kg (155,000 lb), Payload 21,151 kg (46,629 lb)

Performance: Ceiling 10,058 m (32,999 ft), Max Range 4,390 km (2,370 nm), Top Speed 196 mps (Mach 0.59)

Power: Power 18,364 shp

Other: Number of Engines 4

 

[BEING HUMAN]

Its good that the airforce will get Them early.May be they wanna gift em as christmas gift.Hope so. What about army.Which carrier do they have .Any idea any one.Help me through.Thanks.

 

[Tomahawk]

A bit off-topic but interesting; Pakistan had been using C-130 and India had been using IL-76.
Now Pakistan is getting IL-78 (infact already got two) and India is getting C-130J.

 

[Contrarian]

A bit off-topic but interesting; Pakistan had been using C-130 and India had been using IL-76.
Now Pakistan is getting IL-78 (infact already got two) and India is getting C-130J.

India is not getting C-130 for transport needs. Its buying Special Ops version MC-130 Talon for the special forces. Limited numbers of C-130..

India is also buying more Il-78 apparently, with the Finance Ministry denying IAF A-330 Refuellers.

 

[KEETARP]

India is not getting C-130 for transport needs. Its buying Special Ops version MC-130 Talon for the special forces. Limited numbers of C-130..

India is also buying more Il-78 apparently, with the Finance Ministry denying IAF A-330 Refuellers.

I think thats not correct- c130j are for airforce
India's C-130J | Lockheed Martin
(though it will be modified with special and unique kits)

1-Infrared Detection Set (IDS); for aircraft will be able to perform precision low-level flying, airdrops, and landing in blackout conditions
2-Self protection systems and other features are included to ensure aircraft survivability in hostile air defence environments.
3- In addition the aircraft is equipped with air-to-air receiver refueling capability for extended range operations

And do remember IAF's arsenal of lift aircrafts is as follows
HEAVY LIFT- 24+ IL76 to be replaced by C17 in future( 10 are on order) requirement of abt 50 is needed
MEDIUM LIFT-6 C130J 6 more to be purchased(Req is around 20)
INTERMEDIATE LIFT- C27b is what IAF and IA is looking for .
LIGHT WEIGHT MULTIPURPOSE- 100 AN32 aircraft to be replaced by MTA to be built by russia and india in 2014.(req is 120)
AN32 undergoing upgradation in ukraine.

All above data includes IAF+IA req as well .
Source - Seminar i attented in Banglore i have a hand out as well - will upload it shortly after scanning

As far as refullers is concerned .
New tender is floated to
Russia- IL78
Europe-Airbus330mrt
US- Boeing kc-737 modified
Lockeheed- KX135 or so cant say i have to google it

Plz do keep in mind
Airbus is far superior - It can even refuel P8 of navy/AWACS/another A330.( term is called BOOM refuelling)
An IL78 cant do that, IL78 also gulps more fuel .
IL78 is not as sophisticated as a330 is (just compare cockpits see the high quality of sensors,LCD's ,Displays ,computers on a330)
IL78 cant operate from a short airstrip or ill maintained airstrip

 

[DMLA]

HEAVY LIFT- 24+ IL76 to be replaced by C17 in future( 10 are on order) requirement of abt 50 is needed
MEDIUM LIFT-6 C130J 6 more to be purchased(Req is around 20)
INTERMEDIATE LIFT- C27b is what IAF and IA is looking for .
LIGHT WEIGHT MULTIPURPOSE- 100 AN32 aircraft to be replaced by MTA to be built by russia and india in 2014.(req is 120)

Not going into other details you have mentioned in your post, I am confused with the quoted portion wrt aircraft classification!!!

Can you specify the source for requirement of 50 heavy lift transports? I do agree that the C-17 order would likely go on to 20+ but I have never heard of 50 from the horse's mouth!

How can MTA/ An-32 be put under light role? They should be up there with C-130 in medium! AFAIK, C-130 are for joint army/ airforce spec-op forces. An-32 will remain the (medium lift) backbone of IAF with upgrades being planned and eventually supplanted/ replaced completely by MTA.

Also what exactly is C-27B? If you meant the spartan, then yes, it is true that IAF has been interested in the bird (thanks to push from mfg.) and it is possible that it would fill in the medium lift role partially.

Light transport will go to saras or a similar foreign import! IAF has shown interest for 45 of these!

 

[KEETARP]

Not going into other details you have mentioned in your post, I am confused with the quoted portion wrt aircraft classification!!!

Can you specify the source for requirement of 50 heavy lift transports? I do agree that the C-17 order would likely go on to 20+ but I have never heard of 50 from the horse's mouth!

How can MTA/ An-32 be put under light role? They should be up there with C-130 in medium! AFAIK, C-130 are for joint army/ airforce spec-op forces. An-32 will remain the (medium lift) backbone of IAF with upgrades being planned and eventually supplanted/ replaced completely by MTA.

Also what exactly is C-27B? If you meant the spartan, then yes, it is true that IAF has been interested in the bird (thanks to push from mfg.) and it is possible that it would fill in the medium lift role partially.

Light transport will go to saras or a similar foreign import! IAF has shown interest for 45 of these!

Here is a pic from defence magzine i scanned few moths back i cant remember the name-

I got wt of an32 lightest of all its 1/3 of c130 so i kept it lowest in my classification
But yes i agree an32 /mta should be in medium wt category.

And numbers of c17 - well its not specified but speculated needs in magzines and forums(Just like 65 sqn of fighters speculated , in reality it will be hardly 45 in 2020).
Look at the size of our country 17+3 IL76 are already to full stretch.
Air chief himself commented during SUNAMI crisis "we are definately short of lift aircrafts but will do our best".

And yes i meant c27b spartan or something let me get pic of that as well for you.

So i think that pretty much clears your confusion. And i created that classification based on source of information .
I guess numbers i quoted 104 AN32 / 20 IL76/ 12 C130/ are correct
plz do comment

 

[DMLA]

Here is a pic from defence magzine i scanned few moths back i cant remember the name-

I got wt of an32 lightest of all so i kept it lowest in my classification
But yes i agree an32 /mta should be in medium wt category.

And numbers of c17 - well its not specified but speculated needs in magzines and forums(Just like 65 sqn of fighters speculated , in reality it will be hardly 45 in 2020).
Look at the size of our country 17+3 IL76 are already to full stretch.
Air chief himself commented during SUNAMI crisis "we are definately short of lift aircrafts but will do our best".

And yes i meant c27b spartan or something let me get pic of that as well for you.

So i think that pretty much clears your confusion. And i created that classification based on source of information .
I guess numbers i quoted 104 AN32 / 20 IL76/ 12 C130/ are correct
plz do comment

Thanks for your prompt response.
The numbers you have quoted are indeed correct. Though, afaik, number of Il-76 in IAF stands at 18. I am not sure about the actual numbers as we are trying to crystal gaze in to the future but if I were to give out numbers, 20 C-17, 12 C-130J, 50-60 MTA, 45-50 saras/ similar are likely.

 

[KEETARP]

Thanks for your prompt response.
The numbers you have quoted are indeed correct. Though, afaik, number of Il-76 in IAF stands at 18. I am not sure about the actual numbers as we are trying to crystal gaze in to the future but if I were to give out numbers, 20 C-17, 12 C-130J, 50-60 MTA, 45-50 saras/ similar are likely.

We cant ignore c27j - You would be surprised to know its price -its mere $35mill.
I think augmenting c130 fleet with c27j would be beneficial.
And infact with AIRBUS A400 back on track - i suggest to order a400 in addition to 10 c17 , instead of more c17 (will definately save some money ).

 

[DMLA]

We cant ignore c27j - You would be surprised to know its price -its mere $35mill.
I think augmenting c130 fleet with c27j would be beneficial.
And infact with AIRBUS A400 back on track - i suggest to order a400 in addition to 10 c17 , instead of more c17 (will definately save some money ).

Well as I said, I cannot look too far ahead in future. A-400 is facing issues which we all know of. Higher range, speed, payload and proven STOL capabilities make C-17 a very good buy despite the price. Also, it is likely that by the time A-400M comes into the export market, the price will jump close to the C-17 list prices. We should also remember that in the long run, boeing will be dependent on IAF for extending the production lines at long beach and thus we may see lower prices as well (higher production rates expected if India places substantial orders!)

wrt C-27J,I agree that it is a good bird and needs to be looked into. IAF, BSF etc are all looking at this bird and hopefully they will be ordered in numbers to augment the medium transport fleet.

 

[sancho]

We cant ignore c27j - You would be surprised to know its price -its mere $35mill.
I think augmenting c130 fleet with c27j would be beneficial.
And infact with AIRBUS A400 back on track - i suggest to order a400 in addition to 10 c17 , instead of more c17 (will definately save some money ).

Why do we need the C27J? IAF wants to replace most of the transport aircrafts with MTA, also NAL is developing an turbo prob transport aircraft the RTA, which should be in C27 class, so I doubt that we really need it right?
One more thing, why so many C17? What makes it 4 times more worth then a IL 76? Less crew, more payload and short take off capabilities ok, on the other side the range is only slightly better, MTA will use the same engines and all IL 78 and A50 use the same platform so more commonality and less costs right?
I understand that we need 10 C17, for special transports to bad air strips, but replacing all IL 76 for such high costs seems not to be needed.

 

[sancho]

As far as refullers is concerned .
New tender is floated to
Russia- IL78
Europe-Airbus330mrt
US- Boeing kc-737 modified
Lockeheed- KX135 or so cant say i have to google it

That's not correct, an RFI is send out to Boeing for the KC 767 tanker, not a 737 and only that tanker, the A330 and the IL 76 will be in the new competition.
I guess the KC 767 will win, because it offers nearly everything that the A330 offers, in a smaller size and for less costs.

 

[KEETARP]

Why do we need the C27J? IAF wants to replace most of the transport aircrafts with MTA, also NAL is developing an turbo prob transport aircraft the RTA, which should be in C27 class, so I doubt that we really need it right?
One more thing, why so many C17? What makes it 4 times more worth then a IL 76? Less crew, more payload and short take off capabilities ok, on the other side the range is only slightly better, MTA will use the same engines and all IL 78 and A50 use the same platform so more commonality and less costs right?
I understand that we need 10 C17, for special transports to bad air strips, but replacing all IL 76 for such high costs seems not to be needed.

But the sad thing you will see is c17 will replace all IL76 eventually.
Its not my opinion - I post only what i read.
And its for IAF ,IA to decide what is best for them.
Look out few posts back i gave an example of a330 advantage over il78 tanker - and you would know why airforce is angry with finance ministry and defence minister.

 

[sancho]

But the sad thing you will see is c17 will replace all IL76 eventually.
Its not my opinion - I post only what i read.
And its for IAF ,IA to decide what is best for them.
Look out few posts back i gave an example of a330 advantage over il78 tanker - and you would know why airforce is angry with finance ministry and defence minister.

I agree on the tanker, but that is a whole different story! The A330 and the KC 767 are based on passenger aircrafts, so will store the fuel mainly in the wing tanks and another tank on the lower floor, the main cabin will be completely free for anykind of use, that's what it makes clearly superior to the IL 78 tanker. But when it comes to IL 76 transporter vs C17 there is no such a clear difference an I think even waiting for the new IL 476, the modernized and bigger version of the IL 76 could be more cost-effective:

With MTA in the background!