Argentine Air Force Receives New C-130H Hercules

Argentine Air Force formally inducted C-130H Hercules transport planes on June 8.

Minister of Defense Jorge Taiana and Chief of the General Staff of the Argentine Air Force, Brigadier General Xavier Isaac took part in the commissioning ceremony of the aircraft.

The C-130H will play a fundamental role in the supply operations of the Argentine bases and logistical support to the scientific activities carried out in Antarctica. In addition, it will be in charge of various tactical navigation, search and rescue operations, troop drop and cargo, and support in the country's community and within the framework of the Cooperation system between the American Air Forces.

Taiana said, "This is the seventh Hercules and that number is consistent with the extension of our territory and with the need to have surveillance and control of it and its borders and limits."

The new Hercules will become part of the Air Transport Squadron I, through a lease for an initial period of 11 months, through the FMS military sales system, with the possibility of purchasing it in the future.

The newly-delivered C-130H TC-60 Hercules will also receive the modernization kit previously destined for the L-100-30 Hercules, registration TC-100. This decision is due to the fact that the C-130H does not have the operating restrictions that the L-100-30 has due to its civil certification and greater weight, which makes it a more valuable option for tactical transport.