Historic Hercules
By Stephanie Stinn • Photos by John Rossino

The C-130 Hercules reached another historic milestone with the debut of the HC-130J Combat King II personnel recovery aircraft on April 19 in Marietta, Ga.

The U.S. has several versions of legacy HC-130s and the Coast Guard has its own HC-130J in operation. Yet, this latest variant of the Super Hercules is distinctly different from its peers: It is the first J-model variant for the U.S. Air Force that will be used to provide personnel recovery support for joint service operations with coalition forces and civilian agencies.

"Personnel recovery is one of the Air Force's core missions and vital to what we do in defense of America. The mission is demanding and we are grateful to those [employees] of Lockheed Martin assembled here that have given us a world-class aircraft ready for the demands of the mission," said Maj. Gen. Thomas K. Andersen, director of requirements, at Air Combat Command (ACC) headquarters at Langley Air Force Base, Va.

Andersen accepted delivery of this new aircraft during a rollout ceremony held at the end of the production line where the aircraft was produced.

"The HC-130J will enable us to meet the expanding operational tasks that we face today wartime operations in Operation Enduring Freedom and the Horn of Africa, and relief operations in the continental United States as well as in areas like Haiti and Chile. For that, ACC, the Air Force and the nation thank you," Andersen said.

Joining Andersen for this event were U.S. Air Force representatives, U.S. government officials, Lockheed Martin employees and supplier partners. All the attendees were uniformly awed at the unveiling of the new aircraft.

Attendees viewed the new HC-130J up close after the ceremony. The aircraft was parked outside the Marietta production line and joined by a legacy HC-130P, an HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopter, a team of Pararescue Jumpers and HC-130 crews from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., which eventually will receive HC-130Js.

Lockheed Martin is on contract now with the Air Force to build 21 HC/MC-130J Super Hercules to recapitalize its aging fixed-wing rescue HC-130s and special mission MC-130s. The Air Force approved a recapitalization requirement of 74 aircraft (37 for ACC and 37 for Air Force Special Operations Command). The U.S. Air Force first began using the HC-130s for personnel recovery and special missions in the early 1960s.

"Yet again, we see the C-130 setting new standards for mission flexibility," said Ross Reynolds, Lockheed Martin vice president for C-130 programs. "This new configuration of the proven C-130J will give ACC unparalleled capability for combat search and rescue. As demand for the C-130J continues to grow around the world, we will see more ways this aircraft can meet the demands of any operator and mission."

The new aircraft, which is based on the operational U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J tanker baseline, incorporates a host of new features including:

• Advanced multispectral sensors
• Expanded avionics, including enhanced displays and dual military Satellite Communications (SATCOM)
• Modernized refueling system, providing low/high-speed aerial refueling/rapid ground refueling
• Fully functional combat system operator crew station on the flight deck
• Universal Aerial Refueling Receptacle Slipway Installation (boom refueling receptacle) for virtually unlimited range/endurance
• Large Aircraft Infrared Counter Measures (LAIRCM) provisions
• 60/90 kVa generators and enhanced electrical system
• Enhanced Cargo Handling System greatly reducing reconfiguration times/excellent airdrop accuracy
• Enhanced service life center-wing

These enhancements combine to create a well-defined growth path providing this aircraft even greater combat capability.

It is interesting to note that this new variant of the C-130J was not built on a special production line. Rather, it was built in-line with the other C-130Js, a process that reduced cost, risk and enabled the team to meet contractual guidelines, according to Bill Bass, C-130 production planning manger.

For example, the Universal Aerial Refueling Receptacle has been included in a few C-130Js, but never as a part of initial production. Usually, this feature has been a post-production modification.

To include this feature in existing production, the C-130J team created new tooling to support the receptacle during its production phase at Clarksburg, W.Va. In addition, enhancements for new avionics and fuel tubes to support this feature were added to the C-130J line at the Lockheed Martin subassembly plant in Meridian, Miss., and in Marietta.

"These were some of the most significant structural changes on this aircraft in decades. We did it without a glitch and without having to add positions to the line," Bass said.

"We proved to the customer that we can make the changes to the aircraft without impacting delivery time."

The span between initial production and final delivery went quickly, said Jack O'Banion, HC/MC-130J program director.

"I could not be more proud of what the C-130J team has accomplished with the HC/MC-130J," O'Banion said. "Just 22 months after contract award, the team produced this aircraft completely within the production line with no post production modifications required. Not only that, they accomplished this while doubling our C-130J production rate."

The aircraft's floor arrived in Marietta from Meridian in October 2009 and a commemorative floor signing event was held on the final assembly line to honor the new aircraft. A little over 10 months later, the completed HC-130J will fly.

"This locks-in savings for the customer in both recurring cost and schedule. By incorporating the HC/MC-130J's unique systems during production, verses retrofitting them post-production, the customer is saving roughly $8 million and eight months on every HC/MC-130J we build. That saves more than half-a-billion dollars over the 78 aircraft baseline program," O'Banion said.

With one HC-130J off the line, there are others to come. In fact, the second HC-130J has the distinction of being the 200th C-130J built. That aircraft will be ready for testing beginning in summer 2010.

After U.S. Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation, this first HC-130J will be delivered to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona in 2012.

Back to News List.

Back to Top