SHAH ALAM: The Defence Ministry has issued a tender for the upgrade of six Hercules C-130 airlifter of the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The tender was published in two newspapers and also on the ministry’s website on August 20. It was not published on the Eperolehan website.
The tender notice:
AVIONIC UPGRADE PROGRAM -2 FOR SIX (6) UNITS OF C130H AIRCRAFT FOR THE ROYAL MALAYSIAN AIR FORCE (RMAF) AND THE GOVERMENT OF MALAYSIA
Bidders who are interested should take part in an online field visit on August 29. Bidders can still take part in the tender even if they do not take part in the field visit as this is an international tender. The tender itself originaly was supposed to close on October 10 but it has now been extended to December 9. Local companies can also take part in the tender but must produce the original authorization letter from the OEM or System Provider or Integrator. The bidding document is RM1,500 and it will be refunded to bidders not selected for the tender.
The indicative cost of the project is RM278 million. This means the cost of upgrading six Hercules will be around RM1.7 billion. As the cost of the J-version of the Hercules is US73 million (for the USAF) or RM301 million, we can get at least five new Hercules for the cost of the planned upgrade. That said, at this time, it will be difficult to pursue a procurement programme with the US and the OEM – Lockheed Martin.
RMAF C-130 upgrade programme has been in the works for the last two decades – an LOI was even signed in 2014 but floundered for many reasons.
It is unclear whether the latest tender will lead to contract signing based on what we have seen in the past. With the plan to operate the Hercules fleet until 2040, an avionics upgrade is needed though. Malaysian Defence was told that the upgrade programme is similar to the ones planned but canceled previously.
It must be noted that today is the 70th birthday of the Hercules. The YC-130A prototype flew for the first time on August 23 1954.
Happy 70th Birthday, C-130 Hercules – my favourite aircraft and indisputably one of the most important aircraft ever made.
The YC-130A prototype took its first flight on 23 August 1954. pic.twitter.com/HyIk4txl9x
— Eamon Hamilton (@eamonhamilton) August 22, 2024
*Updated on September 25 2024, with the indicative cost for the first aircraft.
— Malaysian Defence
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Happy birthday herky bird!
I wonder which 6 hercules that will be upgraded? the 6 youngest airframes?
There will be a blessing in disguise in the delays.
In the last 1-2 years the avionics technology has advanced so fast and many state of the art even 5 years ago has been eclipsed in tech and importantly lower cost by latest avionics systems.
I would also like to see the engines upgraded/modified to the series 3.5 upgrade (hopefully it is already in the works within the engine sustainment package)
https://www.rolls-royce.com/products-and-services/defence/aerospace/transport-tanker-patrol-and-tactical/t56-3-5-enhancement.aspx#section-programme-updates
Another upgrade that would pay off with efficiencies is replacing the 4-bladed propeller with the 8-bladed NP2000
https://www.collinsaerospace.com/what-we-do/industries/military-and-defense/exteriors/np2000-propeller-system
Is this a (YAY FINALLY! After so long waiting!) or a (meh, even if it does go thru we still have 4 more transporters & 4 tankers left)?
Upgrade avionics for these 6 so that only these 6 can enter certain region airspace that have more regulations?
In the past that was the plan, but now it is likely to manage obsolescence issues. When this was proposed some 20 years back, we were flying the Hercules for overseas operations. Nowadays it is mostly done by the A400Ms.
They will not change the propeller blades as they have a lot of them in storage. This is the same with the Nuri although newer blades will improve the capabilities, the improvements does not cover the cost of the large stock rotor blades already in stock.
Those current propeller blades can be sold off as spareparts easily. Selling it now (and using state of the art replacements now) is better than letting it be obsolete. The new propellers will pay itself with savings in fuel and maintenance when compared to the old propellers.
USAF currently is implementing Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) increment two for its C-130H Hercules.
Cost for each aircraft – about USD7 million.
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-c-130h-upgrade/
Why only 6? The RMAF has 10 Hercs..
Its around 14 actually. No idea on the reason why, probably funding for first six in this RMK and the rest for in the next RMK. It is not only about money as they have to stagger the upgrade to allow aircraft to be available for duty.
Is there a plan to get more A400M?
Currently the Hercules we have
5x of around 1976 vintage
3x of around 1980 vintage
1x of around 1990 vintage
5x of around 1995 vintage
Total of 14
As of how long we can use them, currently RSAF is flying Hercules that is more than 60 years old (made end of the 50s). So that is the benchmark. So the 6 youngest Hercules in TUDM fleet could be flown up to 2050 at least
Nope. They did not ask for them in the first place.
Recently Spain has contemplated exchanging
10x A400M with TAI Hurjets worth around USD720 million.
So that infers the willingness to let go of their unwanted but have to buy production allocation for USD72 million each.
Getting 2 more A400M (for a total of 6) cheaply from Spain to partially replace the 5 earliest Hercules (that would need to be retired around 2036-2040) would be a good idea to do.
So in 2036 TUDM would have
6x A400M
9x C-130H (8x long body -30, 1x short body modified to support SF deployments – armor, DIRCM, chaff/flare dispensers, FLIR turret, engine IR suppressors)
Speaking about transport aircraft I thought there’s was some rumours that RMAF is looking for a MRTT next RMK. Is it true?
@Hulu
“RSAF is flying Hercules that is more than 60 years old”
SG also has a far more robust and sustainable maint & upgrade plan compared to us. Just bcoz they could do it doesnt mean it will have the same success for us. Case in point both sides A4s had differing fates. We are just lucky the Hercs are very dependable planes up til now. With the A400Ms in full operation, we should look to removing the earliest Hercs from service.
@Marhalim
“They did not ask for them in the first place.”
And yet they clocked amongst the highest usage per fleet. They might not have want them originally but they surely loved them to bits now.
….
As far as I know,
6 ordered 1974 – 130Hs [FM2401 to FM2406/M30-01 to M30-06]
The 3 configured as MPAs which arrived in 1980 – [M30-07 and M30-09]
The 5 C-130H-30s [stretched Hs] which arrived in 1995.
One was written off after the hard landing, in Sibu, I believed.
Again there is no plans to replace anything other than the CNS-ATM systems.
Even the A400M which is fitted for but not equipped with DAS but the launchers or the flares were not bought. PMX told the media the A400M was chosen to fly out Palestinians out off Egypt due to its DAS equipment but in reality if anything had been fired against them, the airlifters could only try to maneuver from it. The real reason for choosing for the A400M was the fact that the airlifters could easily be configured for medical evacuation while airliners need to undergo extensive and expensive modifications to do so.
Even the RWR fairing on the A400Ms were manufactured locally by RMAF as replacing them from the OEM was deemed too expensive.
It is more like to be a J Hercules rather than anything else.
Not really but one make do with what one has.
… – ”would be a good idea to do.”
Various things on paper are ”good idea” but in reality it depends on what a particular sees as a priority and its specific needs and requirements.
”SG also has a far more robust and sustainable maint & upgrade plan compared to us.”
Theirs also does not have a history of lying far as often as ours. The RMAF’s fleet over the decades has supported troop on UN duties; flown to Afghanistan and East Timor; supported HADR missions in various countries; flown regularly to the Spratlys [alongside the CN-235s]; supported Ops Fajar; supported troops on exercises in places such as Australia, Saudi, UAE; etc; supported RMAF exercises in various places including Australia; participated in various exercises inmluding Alaska; performed mercy flights and conducted a long list of non military flights like flying nationals back home; flying parts of a satelitte to Kwajalein Atoll; etc, etc, etc.
”but they surely loved them to bits now.”
The penalty is that operational/sustainment costs for the A400Ms has consumed funds which would have been delivered elsewhere and the A400M is in many ways more challenging to support and requires a highler level of skilled manpower.
“Theirs also does not have a history of lying far as often as ours”
I not really sure about that, since they arent open on their operations. They do have permanent training bases in Brunei, Cazaux France (the A4s) and extensively in USA so its likely to do travel a far distance on regular basis to these places. They also do perform HADR supports whereever its possible like the current aids to Gaza, some aircrafts supported the aid relief after Hurricane Harvey in Texas, so yeah perhaps they also operated just as regularly as ours but we may not have known about it?
“The penalty is that operational/sustainment costs for the A400Ms”
On the backdrop of it being newer vs against the older Hercs which also has higher maint cost. The gap may not be as significant considering the A400M higher up time.
5x of around 1976 vintage (1 crashed, originally 6)
FM2401 – M30-01
FM2402 – M30-02
FM2403 – M30-03 – crashed Aug 1990 (sibu)
FM2404 – M30-04
FM2405 – M30-05
FM2406 – M30-06
3x of around 1980 vintage
FM2451 – M30-07
FM2452 – M30-08
FM2453 – M30-09
1x of around 1990 vintage
M30-10
5x of around 1995 vintage
M30-11
M30-12
M30-14
M30-15
M30-16
(ps. no M30-13 for unknown reasons)
Total of 14 current airframes
”I not really sure about that, since they arent open on their operations. ”
”they also operated just as regularly as ours but we may not have known about it?”
They do report it in the press and Pioneer [nothing to be secretive about] but for various reasons theirs do not fly as extensively as ours. SAF deployments abroad are often supported by KC-135s and A330s; which can also carry stuff and the SAF does not participate in as much HADR and UN ops as the MAF [which also has deployments abroad not under the UN]. They also hardly do mercy flights. Same with their Pumas as opposed to the workload of the Nuris which supported ops [military and civil] in a large country and a military much more spread out.
Oh and to add in the list; C-130 [and CN-235s] supported IMT deployments and took part in various SAR operations; as well as from time to time doing routine EEZ patrols. Also, at one point regular flights to East Malaysia – in support of tri service ops – took up quite a bit of hours.
”On the backdrop of it being newer vs against the older Hercs which also has higher maint cost.”
More resource intensive; i.e. more maintenance for every hour flown; on account of being older but ”higher maint cost”? Like all new gen types the A400M has more electronics and more support systems; all that requires money. The A400M is more efficient on account of being a leap in technology and fitted with various things but on average is it really cheaper?
IMHO, an easy way to extend the live of c130 is to buy the MRTT. Use the MRTT to both cargo transport as well as replacing the 737 for government flight and turn the lone 737 into a wedgetail. Supposedly starting next year both AK & MH would be retiring lot of a330 from passenger duties.
Personally I don’t see how any politicians would be against the MRTT acquisition. I mean they are the one that would benefit most out if it.
… – ”crashed Aug 1990 (sibu)”
Skidded off the runway and 1 killed; I believe. Returned to service. Not ”crashed” per see.
As listed in my post we bought 6 in 1974; followed by 3 [stretched Hs] delivered in 1980 and 5 delivered in 1995. A total of 14. Your list has 15 examples; including the one which skidded – not crashed – at Sibu.
What 737 you are talking about? The BBJ was sold off prior to the 2018 general elections and before the new government could cancel the contract, the buyer flew it to Jakarta for refurbishment before selling it off to some middle east buyer.
The Airbus ACJ used by PMX was the one leased by Najib. He had stopped flying the BBJ as it was already aged by the time he took over from Pak Lah, who also did not want to fly on the 737. The other ACJ leased by Pak Lah was withdrawn after the contract lapsed. PM7 wanted to cancel both ACJ leases but relented when told the cancellation fees were too high.
RMAF will not want MRTT unless the government pays for it without cancelling any of its projects or programmes.
Technically I am hoping that the MRTT acquisition would come from the gov BBJ budgets rather than directly from RMAF budget.
“ Technically” we can hope for many things but we have to be realistic on what can be done on paper and what in practice will done. BTW buying the MRTT will not “extend the life” of the C-130s. Only an upgrade to replace a number of things will do that.
Marhalim’s last sentence puts it nicely. Lots of factors at play; nothing is as easy as it sounds or looks on paper. The A400s are great but they diverted a lot of resources from other things.Same concern I have with the Kuwaiti Hornets. The government has to allocate sufficient funding to avoid previous mistakes. Getting them is the relatively easy part and it’s often overlooked. It’s whdt confs after which is the challenge. Funds are tight; even or stuff we already have; never mind an extra 12-20 airframes.
JPM does not have a budget for this. We got the BBJ when the government renationalise MAS in the 90s.
Azlan is wrong here
M30-03 crashed and written off. It is not returned to service.
The other hercules that “crashed” (not really a crash, jumped its chocks at AIROD and crashed into a hangar) and returned to service (by grafting a nose from another C-130) is one of the C-130H-MP
Anyone can Google the picture of each of the serial number to see if it exists or not. You will not find any new pictures of M30-03 as it no longer exists.
This is for example, M30-16. The last number in the TUDM C-130 serial.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GV1NJ5gbIAAyQ3h.jpg
Should retire the first batch and buy the used Js from RAF
Maintaining antique stuff usually are more expensive
If RMAF is serious about getting 5th gen aircraft and fly them to their full potential they have to inevitably buying brand new MRTT with aerial boom. So far both F-35 and KF-21 uses boom type refueling with Kaan potentially using the same kind of refuelling system as well since they’re one of the biggest F-16 operator after all.
A400M didnt support boom type refueling
>buy Js
And, what? tell rmaf instead of maintaining 3 different transport planes they would have to maintain 4 different transport planes?
C-130J is so much different than the previous models they might as well be a different aircraft.
@dundun
You still have to replace them one day and there will be 4 type of transport aircraft no matter what.
Unless we have money to replace them with new A400s. Even by then the new Atlases will be different than the one we have now.
“but on average is it really cheaper?”
Im not sure. It might be a case of each service is double the cost of legacy Hercs but at the same time the Hercs needs twice as many service in the same period? So is it cheaper or more expensive, it depends. But surely the higher availability of A400M makes up for it being newer and having more capabilities and longer range. It also needs less refueling stops so thats a boon in terms of operating cost.
… – ”Azlan is wrong here”
If I’m wrong; I’m wrong.
”M30-03 crashed and written off.”
”The Royal Malaysian Air Force C-130 Hercules transport plane skidded off the runway Sibu Airport (SBW) on landing and came to rest in the jungle.”
What’s your definition of ”crashed”? Mine does not include something which has already landed.