Lockheed Martin to develop C130J block upgrade
Lockheed Martin has announced that it has been awarded a contract by the US Air Force (USAF) to develop a new block upgrade for the C130J Super Hercules. The contract, announced by Lockheed Martin on 19 December 2011, is worth $167 million to the company.
The C-130J fleet is currently flying with the Block 6.0 configuration, while the Block 7.0 configuration is in flight trials. This upgrade will be the Block 8.1 enhancement, and will contain both software and hardware capability expansion for installation on all US government C-130Js and C-130Js of operator countries that select the upgrade.
According to the company, the new Block 8.1 configuration will include items such as updated Identification Friend or Foe (IFF); TEMPEST compliance; Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast; a Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management Data Link; an Enhanced Inter-Communication System; enhanced Approach and Landing Systems; Enhanced Diagnostics; and additional Covert Lighting.
C-130J aircraft are currently in production for the US Air Force and Marine Corps, Iraq, Israel, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Oman and Tunisia. C-130Js are also flown by Australia, Canada, Denmark, India, Italy, Norway, Qatar, the United Kingdom and the US Coast Guard.
You may also like
More from Land Warfare
-
![GM Defense, Black Sage partner up to add drone defences to military vehicles]()
GM Defense, Black Sage partner up to add drone defences to military vehicles
GM Defense has partnered with Black Sage Technologies to develop an integrated counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) capability for tactical military vehicles.
-
![KMW rolls out new 120mm mortar and drone recon modules for Boxer armoured vehicle]()
KMW rolls out new 120mm mortar and drone recon modules for Boxer armoured vehicle
KMW has displayed two new mission modules for the 8x8 Boxer armoured vehicle, one housing a Patria NEMO 120mm mortar turret, and the other equipped for launch and recovery of multiple UAVs for short- and long-range reconnaissance.
-
![Secret customer orders Pearson’s Slice interface for tanks and engineering vehicles]()
Secret customer orders Pearson’s Slice interface for tanks and engineering vehicles
An undisclosed customer has contracted Pearson Engineering to provide a suite of front-end equipment - including the Slice interface – for its tank and combat engineering vehicle programmes.
-
![Bundeswehr orders 57 Rheinmetall heavy trucks]()
Bundeswehr orders 57 Rheinmetall heavy trucks
The German Bundeswehr has ordered 57 HX81 trucks worth over €50 million from Rheinmetall.
-
![Taiwan expands its HIMARS order, amidst ongoing indigenous AFV production]()
Taiwan expands its HIMARS order, amidst ongoing indigenous AFV production
Taiwan continues to boost its inventory of artillery, tanks and armoured vehicles, in the face of a rising martial threat from China.
-
![Poland forges ahead with air defence integration]()
Poland forges ahead with air defence integration
Poland is exploring integrating Northrop Grumman's IBCS command and control system with the short-range elements of its multi-layer air defence network as it seeks to accelerate delivery of the capability.
