SHAH ALAM: Australia is replacing its existing fleet of RAAF Hercules C-130J airlifters with the purchase of newer aircraft at a cost AUD$9.8 billion (US$6.6 billion/RM30 billion), the government announced on July 24. Deliveries of the new aircraft will start in 2027.
RAAF currently operates 12 C-130Js which were delivered in 1999 to 2001.
The release:
The Albanese Government will purchase 20 new C-130J Hercules aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force for $9.8 billion. This will provide the Air Force with state of the art C-130 Hercules to meet the air transport needs of the future.
The new acquisitions will replace and expand upon the 12 Hercules aircraft currently operated by Air Force with delivery of the first aircraft expected from late 2027.
There will be significant benefits for Australian industry from the expanded fleet size, with opportunities to construct facilities and infrastructure and to sustain the aircraft.
The Australian Defence Force relies on the C-130J Hercules aircraft for the deployment of personnel, equipment and humanitarian supplies. The iconic aircraft is regularly used in search and rescue missions, disaster relief and medical evacuation.
The C-130J has been involved in almost every major Defence operation in recent decades, from Bougainville assistance and Timor-Leste peacekeeping through to conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. More recently the aircraft supported Australia’s response to COVID-19 in the region, delivering vaccines and medical supplies, as well bushfire and flood response.
The C-130J Hercules are made by Lockheed Martin and are being purchased from the United States. The aircraft will continue to be operated by No. 37 Squadron at RAAF Base Richmond in NSW.
And as someone is likely to chime in to say shouldn’t we buy the Js being retired by RAAF? No, we should not. Like RAF Js, the RAAF 12 Js are also high-mileage aircraft which has been operated by No. 37 Squadron from 1999. Note the second last line of the above release as it clearly showed that the RAAF Js has likely more flying hours than our very H Hercules even though they were delivered h just two decades ago.
Of course, RMAF wants to buy the J Hercules but they want new ones. Yes, some air forces might end up buying RAAF and RAF retired Js but it will not be us.
–Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (23)
This 9.8 billion purchase wasn’t even big news here. I suppose it’s just small change for Oz, thanks to us Aussie taxpayers. Don’t ask me how much I pay every years in taxes. You’d be shocked.
"chime in to say shouldn’t we buy the Js being retired"
Yup, and was also the proponent to get retired OZ Hornets over the Kuwaiti ones, despite them being of higher mileage than their Middle Eastern brothers. Yes, inspite the fact that Canada later bet on them and brought them back to operational state.
I'd rather have 2 morw A400M tbh even if it's from a secondhand stocks
If we need a new transporter, we are better off getting additional A400M instead.
Currently we are really flying the wings off the A400M fleet, now the highest A400M average time fleet with only 4 aircrafts.
As for our own C-130H, our older charlie from the 1970s batch all have their CWB (center wing box) changed. Another half of our C-130H fleet is from around 1995. CWB change is a very time-consuming task, but no issue to us with our low manpower salary compared to the west. What Australia is doing is to buy new C-130J and sell of their current ones before they need to invest substantial money into something like a CWB change.
A question for RMAF is not whether to buy new C-130Js, but are we willing to invest money to upgrade our current C-130H fleet to be able to operate in the future. The fleet needs ADS-B transponder retrofit for flying in international airspace (costs nearly nothing actually), cockpit upgrades to reduce manpower (eliminating flight engineer tasks), Engine upgrades (for fuel saving and life increase), 8-bladed propeller upgrades (more thrust, cheaper future repairs), self-protection suites and others.
Pictured is a US ANG C-130H with upgraded 8-bladed propellers
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2020/09/First-combined-NP2000-EPCS-installation-on-a-USAF-C-130H.-Credit-ANG-scaled.jpg
... - “A question for RMAF is not whether to buy new C-130Js, but are we willing to invest money to upgrade our current C-130H fleet to be able to operate in the future”
There was a period when we wanted to subject the H fleet to a comprehensive upgrade. That however was when they were younger and before the A400Ms were ordered.
Now the equation has changed; the RMAF still intends on upgrading part of the fleet but it won’t be a comprehensive upgrade. Like the RMN with the FACs and Laksamanas
the RMAF would not want to spend more than what it deems is absolutely needed on airframes of that age; even if the pen pushers agreed to it.
Irrespective of what’s in the CAP 55 which isn’t holy writ and like the 5/15 is/ was politically expedient; the interesting question is whether the service sees a need for any C-130Js.
Yes, they do and Mindef is supporting it. And both also agree that second hand Js are not worth it. Whether or not money will be made available and when, is beyond me and even Mindef.
Didn't the yanks grounded their C-130H after cracks shows up from these engine andpropeller upgrade?
I guess the airframe really stressed out with the increase in thrust
"Don’t ask me how much I pay every years in taxes. You’d be shocked."
Ur an OZ, at least be happy that it is money well spent and the tangible is a stronger defence (with more external focus than before).
We currently have sufficient airlift capabilities & we overused it a bit as we lacked sufficient sealift capabilities.
So The logical thing to do is priorities procurement of sealift capabilities be it by MRSS or police/MMEA 'mothership' while paying the absolute minimum possible to sustain the airlift capabilities until it eventual replacement in 2040/50s.
Should have gotten a couple of Js from the RAF fleet. Give Airod the chance to upgrade certifications. Great dissonance between our aspiration to be a MRO hub and the assets we have.
Joe, 39% hurts whichever way you look at it. Yes tiga puluh sembilan. No bull.