Indian Air Defence is planning to purchase a C-130J, otherwise called Hercules.This Lockheed Martin C-130 is manufactured by US air force.Typically used for tactical cargo and military personnel transport.The latest model of this is called C-130J Hercules with a glass cockpit with digital avionics integrated with new propulsion system having six bladed propeller. Hercules is basically a four-engine turboprop aircraft and have 40 different variant successfully used in 67 odd nations worldwide.C-130 has been used since 1954 and almost 2500 Hercules are built worldwide.
The new C-130J have enhanced range,cruise ceiling time to climb and speed.Also the 'J' model good performance in hot and high conditions can increase the performance of similar aircraft by 50-70%. The cargo bay
of the C-130J has a total usable volume of over 4,500ft. The C-130J is equipped with four Allison AE2100D3 turboprop engines, each rated at 4,591 shaft horsepower (3,425kW). The all-composite six-blade R391 propeller system was developed by Dowty Aerospace.
Air Chief S.P. Tyagi quoted, saying that "the IAF is planning to buy C-130J planes" and reports suggest main reason for choosing HERCULES is the capability of short takeoffs and landings from unprepared runways and without lights.C-130 which was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation and cargo transport aircraft. The versatile airframe has found uses in a variety of other roles, including as a gunship, and for airborne assault, search and rescue, scientific research support, weather reconnaissance, aerial refueling and aerial firefighting.
Initially about 10-15 aircraft is discussed,which would
take over the special forces role and supplement India's current fleet of 100 or so medium lift twin-turboprop AN-32 "Sutlej" aircraft. No word on whether the Hercs in question would be C-130Js with minor customizations, or a J variant of the heavily-modified and much more expensive MC-130 "Combat Talon" special forces aircraft. India's emerging Air Force philosophy and terrorism threat profiles would seem to suggest the MC-130 as the best doctrinal fit, while budgetary constraints (the MC-130H lists as $155 million in FY 2001 dollars, and an MC-130J Combat Talon III would cost more) would suggest the C-130J route.
Will India's potential purchase represent a mere stopgap until the $100-120 million A400M begins to hit the market around 2010, and creates a major competition for India's next-generation tactical airlifter? Will a deal be done around an indigenous project instead, something that India often prefers despite the project failures and increased costs common to such projects in its history? Or is a C-130J order a potential door-opener for a much larger Lockheed order, one that can be delivered sooner to a customer who decides that it would rather have more aircraft available, and doesn't need more than 20 tons of lift capacity?
But it is really unpredictable how well this bulky aircraft will suite Indian terrain??
For more details
www.india-defence.com
www.airforce-technology.com
www.defenseindustrydaily.com
of the C-130J has a total usable volume of over 4,500ft. The C-130J is equipped with four Allison AE2100D3 turboprop engines, each rated at 4,591 shaft horsepower (3,425kW). The all-composite six-blade R391 propeller system was developed by Dowty Aerospace.Air Chief S.P. Tyagi quoted, saying that "the IAF is planning to buy C-130J planes" and reports suggest main reason for choosing HERCULES is the capability of short takeoffs and landings from unprepared runways and without lights.C-130 which was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation and cargo transport aircraft. The versatile airframe has found uses in a variety of other roles, including as a gunship, and for airborne assault, search and rescue, scientific research support, weather reconnaissance, aerial refueling and aerial firefighting.
Initially about 10-15 aircraft is discussed,which would
take over the special forces role and supplement India's current fleet of 100 or so medium lift twin-turboprop AN-32 "Sutlej" aircraft. No word on whether the Hercs in question would be C-130Js with minor customizations, or a J variant of the heavily-modified and much more expensive MC-130 "Combat Talon" special forces aircraft. India's emerging Air Force philosophy and terrorism threat profiles would seem to suggest the MC-130 as the best doctrinal fit, while budgetary constraints (the MC-130H lists as $155 million in FY 2001 dollars, and an MC-130J Combat Talon III would cost more) would suggest the C-130J route.Will India's potential purchase represent a mere stopgap until the $100-120 million A400M begins to hit the market around 2010, and creates a major competition for India's next-generation tactical airlifter? Will a deal be done around an indigenous project instead, something that India often prefers despite the project failures and increased costs common to such projects in its history? Or is a C-130J order a potential door-opener for a much larger Lockheed order, one that can be delivered sooner to a customer who decides that it would rather have more aircraft available, and doesn't need more than 20 tons of lift capacity?
But it is really unpredictable how well this bulky aircraft will suite Indian terrain??
For more details
www.india-defence.com
www.airforce-technology.com
www.defenseindustrydaily.com
1 comment:
Interesting to know.
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