US defence major Lockheed Martin has come up with a proposal to offer India a highly specialised variant of C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, the newest and most advanced variant of the C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft. This was in response to the India Air Force's tender for Medium Transport Aircraft.
India already possesses C-130J advanced airlifter that was delivered under the US government's Foreign Military Sales programme. The IAF’s C-130J Super Hercules supports India's special operations needs as it does precision low-level flying and airdrops and can land in blackout conditions.
The four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft C-130J is suited for India's missions in high-elevation airstrips in hot conditions. In January, IAF landed C130-J transport aircraft at the Kargil airstrip, situated near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Ladakh region, at night. The Kargil airstrip is located at an altitude of around 10,500 feet.
Lockheed Martin intends to benefit from India's experience with C-130J. The S-130J-SOF is a highly customised version of the C-130J, which can meet the requirements of the special forces as it offers greater versatility, for both combat and rescue operations.
The new variant, equipped with a 30mm canon and precision-guided missiles, can offer closed-air support and armed reconnaissance, according to an IDRW report.
With a payload range capability of over 4,000 nautical miles, the C-130J is already a great asset for India. The advanced capabilities of the new variant include better defensive countermeasures and increased night vision capabilities, giving India further teeth in its counter-terror, infiltration, and exfiltration operations and rescue missions.
