The C-130J: New Hercules & Old Bottlenecks

[Slav Defence]

The C-130 Hercules remains one of the
longest-running aerospace manufacturing
programs of all time. Since 1956, over 40
models and variants have served as the
tactical airlift backbone for over 50 nations.
The C-130J looks similar, but the number of
changes almost makes it a new aircraft.
Those changes also created issues; the
program has been the focus of a great deal
of controversy in America – and even of a
full program restructuring in 2006. Some
early concerns from critics were put to rest
when the C-130J demonstrated in-theater
performance on the front lines that was a
major improvement over its C-130E/H
predecessors. A valid follow-on question
might be: does it break the bottleneck
limitations that have hobbled a number of
multi-billion dollar US Army vehicle
development programs?
C-130J customers now include Australia,
Britain, Canada, Denmark, India, Israel, Iraq,
Italy, Kuwait, Norway, Oman, Qatar, South
Korea, Tunisia, and the United States.
American C-130J purchases are taking place
under both annual budgets and
supplemental wartime funding, in order to
replace tactical transport and special forces
fleets that are flying old aircraft and in dire
need of major repairs. This DID FOCUS
Article describes the C-130J, examines the
bottleneck issue, covers global
developments for the C-130J program, and
looks at present and emerging competitors.
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Source:
The C-130J: New Hercules & Old Bottlenecks