India's first C-130 heads for base in 2011

India's first two Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules aircraft will be flown from the United States to their home base at Hindon early next year.



Lockheed Martin handed over the first C-130J to the Indian air force earlier this month as part of an order for six aircraft. The $1.2 billion U.S. Foreign Military Sale -- India's first -- was signed in late 2008 at the DefExpo exhibition in New Delhi.

It was a breakthrough at the time for Lockheed Martin into India's military transport market.

"There are few mottos that impart such passion as that of the Indian air force, which is 'Touch the Sky with Glory'," Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin's vice president for C-130 Programs, said during the handover of the first aircraft. "Today begins a new glorious, enduring partnership with India as the fourth largest air force in the world proudly joins the worldwide C-130 family."

The first aircraft ran its four Rolls-Royce AE2100 engines equipped with Dowty six-blade propellers in September ahead of its maiden flight in October at Lockheed's hangar in Marietta, Ga.

The contract stipulates 80 percent availability of the C-130J fleet at any given time. To ensure this, Lockheed must supply an extensive support package to India because no infrastructure exists to maintain and repair the aircraft.

Support functions and programs include crew training and maintenance technicians, spares, ground support and test equipment, servicing carts, forklifts, loading vehicles and cargo pallets.