Number six of the six C-130J Super Hercules ordered by India, under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, departed Lockheed’s Marietta,Georgia facility on December 15. This aircraft, like its five predecessors, was delivered ahead of schedule and under budget, according to the supplier. Lockheed’s win was the first large order placed on an American OEM by India’s Ministry of Defence in decades.
Lockheed is hopeful of a follow-on order of another six planes that would put the overall value of the two deals at close to two billion dollars.
According to NewKerala.com, in the aftermath of the 6.8 magnitude earthquake last September, a C-130J was the first of the planes to fly to the nearest air base in Baghdogra in West Bengal, carrying relief supplies and National Disaster Management Force members, within a flying time of under three hours. It also did several more sorties to carry relief material for the victims of the earthquake.
