India To Get Six C-130J Transport Aircraft In 2017

Lockheed Martin will be delivering the new batch of C-130J transport military aircraft in 2017, Abhay Paranjape, Business Development Director of C-130 said today.

“We will deliver all 6 C-130J Super Hercules in 2017 to the Indian Air Force,” Paranjape told at the press conference today on sidelines of the DefExpo 2016.

In addition, the US-firm is also in discussion with the India Meteorological Department for specially configured C-130J aircraft that fly into typhoons and hurricanes to obtain information about major storms far more detailed than is provided by weather satellites.

When quizzed about opening F-16 production line in India, Paranjape commented that “both the governments are going to hold a discussion in couple of weeks. The company will not comment on it until then”.

India placed an order for additional six C-130Js in 2013, besides operating five more. India lost one C-130J airlifter in 2013 crash.

West Bengal's Panagarh will be the Indian Air Force's (IAF) second hub for these new C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. From the new runway, IAF will start operating the Super Hercules aircraft beginning May this year and from March 2017 a permanent unit will start.