Lockheed Martin delivers C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft to Georgia Air National Guard

News, US January 24, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. defense firm Lockheed Martin delivers the first of eight C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical aircraft to the Georgia Air National Guard of the U.S. state of Georgia. The airlifter was delivered to the 165th Airlift Wing of the state of Georgia during a ceremony, marking a new era in Hercules operations.

According to the Lockheed Martin statement, the aircraft offers “unprecedented power, space, integration and versatility” and the Georgia Air National Guard unit, the 165th Airlift Wing, has the distinction of operating the first all-C-130J-30 Super Hercules fleet in Georgia.

Vice president and general manager for Lockheed Martin’s Air Mobility & Maritime Missions, Rod McLean said, “Today’s delivery of this C-130J-30 Super Hercules is another symbol of Lockheed Martin’s long-term commitment to the Hercules’ home state. On behalf of our 6,000+ Georgia employees, it is an honor to deliver this Georgia-built, Georgia-flown aircraft to Savannah’s 165th Airlift Wing.”

He further added that “The addition of the C-130J Super Hercules, the most advanced Hercules ever produced, to the Georgia Air National Guard’s fleet enables its crews [to] deliver hope and help ― all over the world for many years to come.”

Today we took delivery on the first of 8 C130J Super Hercules airplanes from Lockheed Martin here in Marietta. The men and women of the 165th Airlift Wing will now be flying the most modern and survivable platform available for their critical mission! pic.twitter.com/IgCwuOcnPZ
— TAGofGA (@TAGofGA) January 22, 2024

This delivery of the military transport aircraft marks the first U.S. Air Force C-130J-30 to receive the Block 8.1 configuration during its initial production. “The Block 8.1 configuration improves interoperability across the fleet with features such as a new flight management system, enhanced navigation and inter-communication systems, and updated friend-or-foe identification,” the Lockheed Martin statement added.

The U.S. Air National Guard operates a fleet of C-130J and C-130H aircraft and the addition of the C-130J-30 Super Hercules would further enhance their capabilities and preparedness.

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, who attended the delivery ceremony said, “I join with Maj. Gen. Carden, Maj. Gen. Crumbly, the Lockheed Martin team, IAM Local 709, and the entire community in celebrating the delivery of this new C-130J for our Georgia Air National Guard. In 2022, Sen. Warnock and I added funding for 16 new C-130J aircraft and an additional 16 in 2023. I will continue to champion the C-130J program in Congress, and this new aircraft will help our National Guard defend the United States.”

Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 is a multirole, multimission, stretch version of the C-130J, aircraft. It has been proven as a highly reliable and affordable airlifted. The airlifter has expanded usable space with two more pallets of equipment in the cargo compartment.

*^{U.S. defense firm Lockheed Martin’s C-130J-30 airlifter. (Image Credit: Lockheed Martin/Thinh D. Nguyen)}*

The C-130J-30 can fly at the speed of 410 mph at 6,706 meters (22,000 feet), and reach a maximum speed of 660 km/h. The Super Hercules aircraft is 35m in length, with a wingspan of 40m, and has the capacity of a maximum payload of 44,000 pounds (19,958 kilograms).

As of now, there are 26 operators of the C-130J global fleet in 22 nations. The leading defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin has so far delivered more than 530 C-130J Super Hercules in 18 mission variants.