Lockheed Martin has conducted a flight test of the Royal Omani Air Force’s (RAFO) new C130J-30 Super Hercules military transport aircraft at its Marietta facility in Georgia, US.
The aircraft is the first of three C-130J ordered by the Sultanate of Oman to support the air force’s internal country operations and to enable operation out of remote and rundown airstrips.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The first long configuration C130J-30 Super Hercules was ordered in July 2009, followed by two additional short configuration aircraft in August 2010.
Dubbed as a stretched version of Lockheed Martin-built C-130J Hercules, the C-130J-30 is a four-engine, medium-lift military transport aircraft designed to conduct military, civilian and humanitarian assistance operations.
With an extended cargo floor length ranging from 40ft to 55ft, the aircraft is capable of carrying eight 463L pallets, 97 litters, 24 container delivery system (CDS) bundles and 128 equipped combat troops or 92 paratroopers.
Currently operational with the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF), the C-130J-30 Hercules has also been ordered by the US, Australian, Italian, Danish, Iraqi and Kuwaiti air forces.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataPowered by four Allison AE2100D3 turboprop engines, the C-130J Super Hercules is an upgraded variant of the C-130 Hercules aircraft, featuring a glass cockpit, digital avionics and a new flight deck system.
Lockheed is scheduled to deliver two C-130J aircraft in late 2013 and early 2014 to Oman, which currently operates a fleet of three C-130H aircraft for tactical transport missions.
Image: The Omani Air Force’s C130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft during a test flight at Lockheed’s Marietta facility in the US. Photo: courtesy of Lockheed Martin ©.
