Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract for 380 million euros ($422 million) to provide technical and logistical support for the Italian Air Force’s C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft.
As part of the five-year contract, the company will provide in-house, on-site engineering support for the aircraft’s maintenance. The agreement also covers repairs, spare parts, material logistics, inspection, software, and technical publications updates.
Lockheed joins defense firms Leonardo and Avio Aero in a new enterprise called Temporary Business Grouping to perform maintenance for the fleet.
Lockheed Martin vice president Trish Pagan said the partnership allows the Maryland-based company to utilize its design and production expertise in collaboration with Leonardo and Avio Aero to ensure that Italy’s Super Hercules fleet “is ready to support any mission — anytime, anywhere.”
For Leonardo, the contract leverages its global support structure to provide the European nation with dedicated technical-logistical support services to ensure the C-130J’s operational continuity.
The C-130J Super Hercules
The latest variant of the C-130 all-purpose theater transport aircraft, the C-130J Super Hercules is a “highly reliable and affordable airlifter” designed to carry troops and equipment to combat zones via airdrop or short runways.
The aircraft can accommodate loads up to 37,216 pounds (16,880 kilograms), and the cargo bay is equipped with cargo handling rollers, tie-down rings, storage containers, and storage for troop seats.
The C-130J uses electro-optical sensors to detect missile exhaust and advanced signal processing algorithms for threat analysis. It also has a dual-embedded global positioning system, an enhanced traffic alert and collision avoidance system, and a ground collision avoidance system.
Fully loaded, the Super Hercules can travel at a maximum speed of 417 miles (671 kilometers) per hour for up to 1,841 miles (2,962 kilometers).
More than 2,600 C-130s are in service with various forces, including the US Air Force, which has 134.
