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 the field visit on August 29. Those who do not participate in the field visit will be disqualified from bidding. The tender itself will close on October 10. The bidding document is RM1500 and it will be refunded for the losing bidders.
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 as we have seen such things in the past. With the plan to operate the Hercules fleet until 2040, an avionics upgrade is needed.
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.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (36)
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
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.
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.
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?
Nope. They did not ask for them in the first place.
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
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)
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.
Speaking about transport aircraft I thought there's was some rumours that RMAF is looking for a MRTT next RMK. Is it true?
It is more like to be a J Hercules rather than anything else.
@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.
Not really but one make do with what one has.