Lockheed Martin has delivered the first of eight C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft to the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Ohio as part of a project to modernize the installation’s aging military transport fleet.
The plane incorporates a new configuration of aerial spray capability to secure large areas from disease-carrying insects and other pests as well as to disperse oil spills in water surface domains.
Lockheed wrote that this function marks the 19th unique mission feature of the C-130J product line.
“The C-130J is constantly evolving … ensuring the Super Hercules remains ready for what’s next through unmatched versatility and tactical airlift power,” Lockheed Martin Air Mobility & Maritime Missions VP Rod McLean stated.
Replacing Older C-130s
The new aircraft was assembled in Marietta, Georgia, with the support of a “workforce who invested 78,000 hours of committed labor,” according to the US Air Force.
It will now be operated by the 910th Airlift Wing, which has been piloting C-130s since the 1980s.
This wing’s current fleet consists of C-130H Hercules models inducted between 1989 and 1992.
“Our C-130H Hercules aircraft have provided that for decades, and as we retire them from service at Youngstown Air Reserve Station we look forward to continuing their track record of success with a fleet of new C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft,” a statement from the Youngstown Air Reserve Station said.
“This (the transition to C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft) will represent a nearly one billion dollar influx into our local economy adding on to the fact that this air base remains the second largest employer in the area and one of the pillars of our community.”
In July 2020, the Pentagon awarded Lockheed a $15-billion contract to develop, integrate, retrofit, and produce multiple C-130J variants at the company’s Marietta facility until 2030.
The Super Hercules
The C-130J is a 97-foot (29-meter) aircraft operated by two pilots and a loadmaster. It can carry up to 34,000 pounds (15,422 kilograms) of payload or 60 to 90 combat troops depending on mission requirements.
It is powered by four Rolls-Royce engines with 4,700 horsepower for a speed of 417 miles (671 kilometers) per hour and a range of 28,000 feet (8,615 meters).
Its latest upgrade, the C-130J-30, has a fuselage 15 feet (4.5 meters) longer. Both variants have a wingspan of 132.7 feet (39.7 meters).
