The C-130J is the newest version of the C-130 Hercules, and the only model currently in production. As of March 2022[update], 500 C-130J aircraft have been delivered to 26 operators in 22 countries.[1]
On 16 December 1994, Lockheed received the launch order for the J-model from the United Kingdom'sRoyal Air Force (RAF).[2] The C-130J launch order occurred after a UK government stalemate of several months that concerned whether to buy new transport aircraft from Europe or the United States. It was paired with a commitment to buy 40 to 50 of the proposed EuropeanFuture Large Aircraft aircraft (FLA, which was later designated as theA400M). The FLA commitment, which reduced the size of the C-130J launch order, was intended to ensure a 20 percent British workshare in the FLA program, and to prevent German industry from threateningBritish Aerospace's position as the wing manufacturer on the FLA and futureAirbus commercial projects.[3][4] The RAF ordered 25 aircraft for a total fixed price of US$1.6 billion (~$2.95 billion in 2024), with first deliveries originally scheduled to begin in November 1996.[5] The promised deliveries of the C-130J allowed theBritish Ministry of Defence to meet the 1996 deadline for replacing half of the RAF's aging fleet of Hercules aircraft, while the FLA aircraft was not at the time expected to be available until 2003.[6]
To speed up the sale of military and commercial versions of the aircraft,Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) civil certification was pursued before delivery would happen.[5] Civil certification was not a regulatory requirement and was unneeded for the RAF launch order. However, certification was stipulated in Lockheed Martin's contracts with some subsequent customers, including theUnited States Air Force (USAF) and theRoyal Australian Air Force (RAAF).[7]
The program suffered from problems such as software integration glitches that extended the schedule by three months, followed by a nine-month delay caused by undiscoveredstall characteristics that required aircraft modification.[5] The stall problem was caused by the additional power of the engines and the increase in propeller blades from 4 to 6, which changed theaerodynamics such that the aircraft had a greater tendency to stall and roll at lower speeds.[8]
Lockheed Martin spent five months making 20 unsuccessful attempts at aerodynamic solutions,[9] but the stall problems were so varied that the fixes it tried to make applied only to specific conditions (such as only during power off, or only at full power).[10] Lockheed Martin changed the cockpit to include astick pusher, which takes control and automatically pushes down the aircraft's nose if the pilot does not respond to stall warnings.[8] The stick pusher was meant to be a temporary addition until Lockheed Martin could find an aerodynamic fix for all of the new stall conditions.[10]
In late 1997, the company discovered that directional problems could be caused by ice build-ups.[8] Because the AE 2100 engines were more powerful and fuel-efficient than theAllison T56 engines that they replaced, the engines no longer produced enoughbleed air to continuously warm the tail. This situation had been anticipated, but the cyclic system that replaced the old de-icing system was found to be insufficient when the C-130J flew in extreme conditions.[11] This problem forced the company to extend thede-icing system higher and lower on thevertical stabilizer to prevent ice formation, causing another delay of five months. These issues resulted in Lockheed Martin exceeding its initial C-130J development budget of US$300 million.[7] By May 1998, Lockheed had spent over US$900 million (~$1.61 billion in 2024) in development costs for the C-130J.[12] By the end of 1998, the company owed the RAF about US$50 million (~$89.5 million in 2024) in penalties due to the delivery delays.[13]
FAA type certification occurred in September 1998 following 4,000 hours offlight testing.[14] Deliveries commenced in 1999 as the Hercules C4 (C-130J-30) and Hercules C5 (C-130J). The standard C-130J had aflyaway cost ofUS$62 million in 2008.[15]
On 23 December 2004, U.S. Deputy Secretary of DefensePaul Wolfowitz approved a program budget decision that ended the procurement of C-130J for the Air Force and completed the remaining KC-130J order for the Marine Corps in 2006, which would save US$5 billion inthe Pentagon budget.[16] Deficiencies with the C-130J that were cited to support the decision included being unable to drop heavy equipment, the inability to perform combatsearch-and-rescue missions, cold-weather performance issues, the risk ofparatroopers hitting the fuselage when jumping out of the aircraft, major cost increases, and inadequate radar to fly into hurricanes.[17] U.S. Secretary of DefenseDonald Rumsfeld reversed this decision on May 10, 2005, after members of Congress stated that the canceling the pre-existing orders of 62 total Air Force aircraft over the following five years would result in about US$2 billion (~$3.08 billion in 2024) in termination costs to the government, which would have exceeded the cost of buying the aircraft.[18]
In mid-June 2008, theUnited States Air Force awarded a $470 million (~$670 million in 2024) contract to Lockheed Martin for six modified KC-130J aircraft for use by the Air Force andSpecial Operations Command. The contract led to C-130J variants that will replace agingHC-130s andMC-130s.[19] TheHC-130J Combat King II personnel recovery aircraft completed developmental testing on 14 March 2011. The final test point was air-to-air refueling, and was the first ever boom refueling of a C-130 where the aircraft's refueling receiver was installed during aircraft production. This test procedure also applied to theMC-130J Combat Shadow II aircraft in production for Air Force Special Operations Command.[20]
A KC-130J showing the AN/AAQ-30 Targeting Sight andAGM-114 Hellfires on the left wing in Afghanistan, 2011
With the addition of the Marine CorpsISR / Weapon Mission Kit, theKC-130J tanker variant will be able to serve as anoverwatch aircraft and can deliver ground support fire in the form ofHellfire orGriffin missiles,precision-guided bombs, and eventually30mm Mk44 Bushmaster II cannon fire in a later upgrade.[21] This capability, designated as "Harvest HAWK" (Hercules Airborne Weapons Kit), can be used in scenarios where precision is not a requisite, such asarea denial.[22] The aircraft retains its original capabilities in refueling and transportation. The kit can be removed within a day if necessary.[23]
TheUnited States Navy is considering replacing its fleet ofE-6B Mercury aircraft with C-130J-30 Hercules aircraft in the Take Charge And Move Out (TACAMO) survivable nuclear communications role. The U.S. Navy'sNaval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) posted a solicitation for fatigue test aircraft to a government procurement website on 18 December 2020. It is to award Lockheed Martin a contract for three "stretched" Hercules in fiscal years 2022 and 2023 for testing and analysis for the TACAMO mission.[24]
Externally similar to the classic Hercules in general appearance, the J-model features considerably updated technology. These differences include newRolls-Royce AE 2100 D3turboprop engines,Dowty R391 six-bladedcompositescimitar propellers that have blade tips swept by 35 degrees,[25] digital avionics (includinghead-up displays (HUDs) for each pilot), and reduced crew requirements. These changes have improved performance over its C-130E/H predecessors, such as 40% greater range, 21% higher maximum speed, and 41% shorter takeoff distance.[26] Because of the deicing problem discovered late in the certification program, the C-130J includes a black rubber deicing boot at the bottom of the vertical fin, which is another visual difference from previous versions of the Hercules.[27] The J-model is available in a standard-length or stretched-30 variant.
As a cargo and airlift aircraft, the C-130J's crew includes two pilots and oneloadmaster (nonavigator orflight engineer), while specialized USAF variants (e.g., AC-130J, EC-130J, MC-130J, HC-130J, WC-130J) may have larger crews, such as navigators/Combat Systems Officers or other specialized officer and enlisted air crew. The U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J uses a crew chief for expeditionary operations. The C-130J's cargo compartment is approximately 41 feet (12.5 m) long, 9 feet (2.74 m) high, and 10 feet (3.05 m) wide, and loading is from the rear of the fuselage.[28]
The aircraft can be configured with the "enhanced cargo handling system". The system consists of a computerized loadmaster's station from which the user can remotely control the under-floor winch and configure the flip-floor system to palletized roller or flat-floor cargo handling. Initially developed for the USAF, this system enables rapid role changes to be carried out and so extends the C-130J's time available to complete taskings.[29]
In 2010,Elbit Systems was awarded a contract to supply its J-MUSIC Directed Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) system for integration on the Italian Air Force's C-130J aircraft. J-MUSIC, part of the MUSIC family, uses fiber-laser technology and a high-speed thermal imaging system to protect against heat-seeking missiles, including shoulder-fired MANPADS. This enhancement significantly improves the self-protection capabilities of the C-130J, especially during operations in high-threat environments.[30]
The Super Hercules has been used extensively by the USAF and USMC in Iraq and Afghanistan. Canada has also deployed its CC-130J aircraft to Afghanistan.
From the first flight on 5 April 1996 to 30 April 2013, 290 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft operated by 13 nations surpassed 1 million flight hours.[31][32]
In January 2013, it was reported that some of Canada's CC-130J transports had counterfeit Chinese microchips in their cockpit displays that were made by an American Lockheed contractorL3 Communications. These parts are more likely to fail and result in failures such as blank instrument screens during flight. A 14-month investigation by theU.S. Senate Armed Services Committee concluded thatcounterfeit parts in the Hercules and other American-made military equipment are prone to failure with potentially "catastrophic consequences." The U.S. congressional investigation reported the fake Hercules microchips were originally made by the Korean electronics giantSamsung in the 1990s, and more than a decade later, had been recycled, refurbished and remarked to appear genuine by a different supplier from China.[33] Samsung later stated that "it is not possible to project the reliability" of the altered parts. The U.S. investigation reported that the problems on the Hercules first came to light in 2010 when theinstrument panel failed on a U.S. Air Force aircraft during active duty.[34]
On 20 August 2013, the Indian Air Force performed the highest landing of a C-130J at theDaulat Beg Oldi airstrip inLadakh at the height of 16,614 ft (5,064 m).[35][36]
In August 2025, theIndian Air Force, from its Northern Secor, deployed five of itsMi-17 helicopters along with aChinook and C-130J transport aircraft each for theflood relief operations following theUttarakhand andKishtwar district flash floods. The C-130J aircraft boarded by anNDRF team reached Jammu to supply rescue materials, supplies and trained personnel. So far, 50 Army personnel, 21BSF personnel and over 40 civilians have been rescued by the fleet from regions includingAkhnoor,Pathankot andDera Baba Nanak. Additionally, over 750 kg of relief materials were also air dropped into Pathankot as part of the operation. Additional helicopters and transport aircraft also remained on standby to join the operations if deemed necessary.[38]
TheModular Airborne FireFighting System (MAFFS) is a self-contained unit used foraerial firefighting that can be loaded onto a C-130 Hercules, which then allows the aircraft to be used as an air tanker againstwildfires.[39] This allows theU.S. Forest Service (USFS) to use military aircraft from theAir National Guard andAir Force Reserve to serve as an emergency backup resource to the civilian air tanker fleet.[39][40] The latest generation MAFFS II system was used for the first time on a fire in July 2010,[41] using the C-130J Super Hercules.[42] The146th Airlift Wing was the first to transition to the MAFFS II system in 2008, and it remains the only unit flying the new system on the C-130J aircraft.[42]
TheRoyal Australian Air Force was thesecond international customer for the C-130J-30, with an initial order of 12 aircraft.[44] An order for two more aircraft was planned, but was replaced by the purchase of a fifthBoeing C-17 Globemaster III.[45] On 2 November 2022, the US State Department approved the possible sale of 24 C-130Js worth up to $6.35 billion to the Royal Australian Air Force.[46]
TheRoyal Norwegian Air Force ordered four C-130J-30s in 2007 to replace six aging C-130Hs in need of repairs.[47][48] Aircraft were delivered from November 2008[49][50] to 2010.[51] One of thesewas lost in March 2012.
TheCanadian Forces signed a US$1.4 billion (~$2 billion in 2024) contract with Lockheed Martin for seventeen new C-130J-30s in January 2008, as part of the procurement process to replace the existing C-130E and H models.[52] The C-130J is officially designated as theCC-130J Hercules in Canadian service.[53] The first C-130J was delivered to CFB Trenton in June 2010.[54] The final C-130J was delivered in May 2012.[55]
TheIndian Air Force purchased six C-130J-30s in early 2008 at a cost of up to US$1.059 billion[56] for itsspecial operations forces in a package deal with the US government under itsForeign Military Sales (FMS) program. India has options to buy six more aircraft. The Indian government decided not to sign the Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA), which resulted in the exclusion of high precision GPS and other sensitive equipment. The IAF added similar equipment produced indigenously to the aircraft after delivery.[57] In October 2011, India announced its intent to exercise the option for the six additional aircraft, following the C-130J's favorable performance in the2011 Sikkim earthquake relief operations. In July 2012, the U.S. accepted India's request for the six more C-130Js through the FMS program.[58] In December 2013, India'sCCS approved the order for six more aircraft.[59] On 5 August 2025, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the sustenance of the C-17 and C-130J fleets of the Indian Air Force.[60][61]
Qatar ordered four C-130Js in October 2008, along with spare parts and training for theQatar Emiri Air Force. The contract is worth a total of US$393.6 million (~$540 million in 2024) and deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2011.[64]
TheUnited Arab Emirates Air Force announced an order for 12 C-130J transports at the 2009International Defence Exhibition (IDEX), with an announced value of US$1.3 billion.[65] TheUnited Arab Emirates requested 12 C-130Js through a Direct Commercial Sale in December 2009, with logistics support, training and related systems to be provided through a Foreign Military Sales program.[66] A contract with Lockheed Martin has not been signed.[67]
TheIsraeli Air Force is seeking to purchase nine C-130J-30s.[68] In April 2010, Israel ordered one C-130J-30 with delivery in 2013, and was in contract talks for two more aircraft in June 2010.[N 1][69] An option for a second C-130J-30 was exercised in April 2011, along with planning and advance long lead procurement of aircraft components to support the third C-130J Israeli aircraft.[70][71] The first Israeli C-130J was delivered in June 2013 and was modified with Israeli-unique systems in the United States[32] prior to its arrival in Israel in April 2014.[72] Israel ordered a fourth C-130J-30 in July 2013.[73] The C-130J's local name is "Shimshon".
TheKuwait Air Force signed a contract for three KC-130J air refueling tankers in May 2010, with deliveries to begin in late 2013.[74] The KC-130Js will refuel the KAF's F-18s and augment its fleet of three militarizedL-100s.
Oman increased its C-130J order in August 2010 by adding two C-130Js to the single C-130J-30 ordered in 2009. Deliveries are to be completed by early 2014.[75] TheRoyal Saudi Air Force has purchased[when?] two KC-130Js to be delivered in 2016.[76]
In 2015, the French Air Force ordered four Super Hercules to supplement existing capabilities due to the ongoing problems and delays of the orderedAirbus A400M, through FMS the French got two C-130J in 2017/2018 and two KC-130J in 2018/2019 (helicopter refuelling capability), especially supporting French overseas operations in Africa.[82]
In January 2017, German defence minister announced the intention to purchase three C-130J and three KC-130J Hercules to acquire tactical airlift capabilities due to the delayed deliveries of the Airbus A400M.[83]
In September 2018, Indonesia's state-owned news agencyAntara reported that minister of defenceRyamizard Ryacudu saidIndonesia is looking to acquire five C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.[84] In September 2021, it was reported that Indonesia ordered five C-130J-30 aircraft from Lockheed Martin for theIndonesian Air Force in 2019, with the first aircraft already under construction.[85] In 2023, Indonesian Air Force received its first C-130J-30 that arrived at Lanud Halim Perdanakusuma.[86]
In June 2019, New Zealand's Minister of DefenceRon Mark identified the C-130J-30 as the preferred replacement for theRoyal New Zealand Air Force's five remaining C-130Hs that were planned to be in service until 2023.[87][88] In November 2019, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the potential sale of five C-130Js, 24 engines and related equipment for an estimated cost of US$1.4 billion (~$1.69 billion in 2024).[89] The sale was confirmed in June 2020, with the planes expected to be delivered between 2024 and 2025.[90] The first aircraft was delivered on August 8, 2024 at Lockheed Martin's facility in Marietta, Georgia.[91]
In September 2020,Philippine Air Force chiefAllen T. Paredes planned to acquire five C-130J-30 aircraft.[92] The quantity was later reduced to two after government funds were prioritized for theCOVID-19 pandemic response.[93] In December 2022, the Notice of Award has already been released for the acquisition of three C-130J-30 Super Hercules heavy transport aircraft from Lockheed Martin however no official announcement has been made by both parties including PAF.[94] In October 2023, the DND announced the acquisition of three C-130J-30 with the contract worth ₱22.2 billion, the first C-130J is scheduled to be delivered in July 2026, the second is in October of the same year and the third plane is in January 2027.[95]
In 2022, theSwedish Air Force ordered four ex-Italian Air Force C-130J-30s for delivery in 2023 and 2024.[98] This order was reportedly put on hold in 2023 for review.[99] In 2024, theEmbraer C-390 was chosen instead.[100]
In November 2022, the US agreed to aForeign Military Sales purchase byAustralia of 24 C-130J-30 aircraft, that will effectively double theRAAF fleet after the existing aircraft have been retired.[101]
Two USMC KC-130Js ofVMGR-352 during a training exerciseA USCG HC-130J Super Hercules
C-130J Super Hercules
Tactical airlifter
C-130J-30
Lockheed Martin designation for its 15 ft (4.6 m) extended fuselage variant; designated CC-130J by USAF for a short time after 2002 and later renamed into C-130J, so there are two different variants under the same designation.[127][128][129]
C-130J-SOF
Variant outfitted with extendedISR equipment for use withspecial forces. Unveiled in June 2017.[130]
CC-130J Hercules
Royal Canadian Air Force designation for the C-130J-30.[131]
E-130J
Variant for the U.S. Navy's TACAMO operations to replace theE-6 Mercury. Based on the C-130J-30.[132]
Comes in two variants: The HC-130J Super Hercules is a long range patrol and air-sea rescue variant for theU.S. Coast Guard. The HC-130J COMBAT KING II is aU.S. Air Force version that can be refueled in-flight byKC-46 andKC-135 aircraft and can itself in-flight refuel various models of U.S. military helicopters and the USAFCV-22, USMCMV-22, and USNCMV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft. The USAF HC-130J is nearly identical to the USAF MC-130J, differentiated by only a few additional electronic systems carried by the MC-130J.
Designed for Air Force Special Operations Command. Originally named Combat Shadow II.
MC-130J Commando II Amphibious Capability
A proposed twin-floatamphibious modification to allow support operations at sea and in near-shore areas; the initial flight test has been repeatedly pushed back.[134][135][136]
Indian Air Force – 12 C-130J-30s in service as of December 2019.[155] A total of 12 C-130J-30s had been ordered by December 2013;[156][157] One crashed in 2014,[156] which was replaced in 2019.[158][159]
Israeli Air Force – six C-130J-30s ordered with deliveries beginning in 2013.[71][164] It planned to acquire a total of nine C-130J-30s in 2008.[165] 7 received as of January 2019.[166]
Republic of Korea Air Force – four C-130J-30s ordered with for delivery in 2014.[172] Two of four aircraft were delivered to Republic of Korea Air Force in 2014.[173][174]
Royal Air Force – Launch operator of C-130J. 14 aircraft (1 C-130J, and 13 C-130J-30s) were in service as of 2020.[citation needed] The RAF's C-130Js were formally withdrawn from service on 30 June 2023.[179]
C-130Js have been involved in the following notable accidents:
On 12 February 2007,Royal Air Force (RAF) Hercules C.4 (C-130J-30), ZH876, c/n 5460 (built in 1998) was seriously damaged during landing on a desert airstrip by multipleimprovised explosive devices (IEDs) along the airstrip, in Maysan province near Basrah, Iraq. There were no casualties to the crew and passengers, but the airframe was damaged beyond repair and subsequently destroyed at the crash site by explosives to prevent it from falling into enemy hands.[180][181]
On 15 March 2012,Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) (Norwegian:Luftforsvaret) C-130J-30, 10–5630 'SIW' (the newest of four C-130Js in the RNoAF inventory), c/n 5630, on a flight fromEvenes Air Station,Norway toKiruna, Sweden,impacted the side ofKebnekaise mountain at an altitude of 4,920 feet (1,500 metres) during bad weather after disappearing from radar, and disintegrated. All five RNoAF crew aboard were killed. Continued bad weather meant that a RNoAFLockheed P-3C Orion surveillance aircraft was not able to spot the wreckage until 17 March.[182] The RNoAF C-130J aircraft was to collect soldiers, and fly back to the Norwegian base for theNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO/OTAN) exerciseCold Response.[183]
On 28 March 2014,Indian Air Force (IAF) C-130J-30 KC-3803 (one of six operated by the IAF), operated by77 Squadron 'Veiled Vipers', crashed nearGwalior, India, less than ten minutes after takeoff, killing all five personnel aboard.[184][185][186][187] The aircraft was conducting low level penetration training by flying at around 300 feet (90 metres), following a second C-130J. It was then during a climb to 1,000 feet (300 metres) when it stalled after running intowake turbulence from the lead aircraft in the formation, which caused it to crash; suggesting an error of judgement by the pilot.[188]
^Quote: "Separately, Israel has held preliminary talks with Lockheed Martin about acquiring more C-130J tactical transports. The nation will receive its first example in mid-2013 ..."
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