Australia double dips on C-130J transport replacement
The RAAF is planning to replace its current fleet of C-130J-30 transport aircraft with more of the same. (Photo: Gordon Arthur)
Lockheed Martin’s C-130J has been promulgated as the Royal Australian Air Force’s preferred choice to replace the current Super Hercules fleet.
On 1 November, the Australian DoD announced that it had selected a replacement platform for its fleet of a dozen C-130Js. In fact, these aircraft operated since 1999 will be replaced with more of the same.
Although numbers were not mentioned in the announcement, it did say the [RAAF] will be ‘expanding’ its fleet.
Australia’s C-130Js received from 1999-2001 will reach their 30-year life of type in FY2030-31. The name for this RAAF replacement and expansion exercise is Project Air 7404 Phase 1.
The DoD said it had ‘approached a number of aircraft manufacturers and received information on all available
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