Lockheed Martin announced on 5 September 2024, during the Egypt International Air Show, that the Egyptian Armed Forces will acquire two C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical airlifters through a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) with the U.S. Air Force.
With this acquisition, Egypt becomes the 23rd nation to join the global Super Hercules operating community.
The C-130J-30 will significantly enhance the capabilities of the Egyptian Air Force (EAF), which already operates one of the world’s largest C-130H fleets. Egypt now joins seven other operators in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region that rely on the C-130J for medium-sized tactical airlift operations.
Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Air Mobility & Maritime Missions line, expressed his enthusiasm:
“Welcoming Egypt to the C-130J Super Hercules global fleet is an honor that truly represents the longstanding partnership between our two nations and with Lockheed Martin. With these new C-130J-30s, the Egyptian Air Force’s tactical airlift presence will deliver unmatched capabilities and aligned force amplification to serve Egypt, North Africa and the world.”
The C-130J Super Hercules has a proven track record of reliability, tactical airlift and combat airdrop capabilities, and certification by over 20 airworthiness authorities.
With more than 545 C-130Js delivered and over 3 million flight hours logged, the aircraft offers interoperability with NATO and partner nations, along with reduced life-cycle costs and significant fuel savings.
And to think the RAF was the launch customer 🤔.
Day’s gone 🙄
Yeah in the 1990s, the RAF C-130J and C-130J-30s were worn out and would have been too expensive to replace plus we should not be soley reliant on the US given they can stab us in the back when it suits them
Suez is the perfect example
hardly “worn out.” They gave up on maintenance when it became clear the political decision to buy the A400 became obvious. Total waste of money.
I bet they fly for another 30 years in other air force’s inventory.
Indeed. I half expected this article to be about them buying our ‘old’ ones.
Absolutley correct Chris- thy mat require re-sparring and upgrades , but I can see theses flying for lest another 30 years.
sorry “they may”
People wonder where the MOD’s money goes. The A400 “support” contract and the new IT consultant contracts alone are 1bn pounds. One thousand million pounds. Unsustainable.
The C-130’s were actually very affordable airplanes, many of the parts could be scavenged off older models in the bone yards for next to nothing. Now the RAF are paying high street prices for nuts and bolts on the airbus.
If only they were paying high street prices, we all know the price gouging that goes on in mil-procurement. The nut or bolt bought on the high street for £1 will be £2 or £3 by the time the military suppliers add their margin.
The US didn’t stab the UK in the back over Suez. The UK shot itself in the foot because it failed to recognize that it was a spent power and stupidly launched a military operation during the height of the Cold War without even bothering to inform the United States. Anthony Eden was too stupid and self-important to recognize that the US would react with fury over this attempt to force it to act as a guarantor of a British Empire in terminal decline.
A painful truth. Anthony Eden was dependent on a variety of drugs during his years as PM following a number of health conditions and a difficult personal life. Even though I was only seven years old at the time, I remember the Suez saga well. Although the UK was indeed in decline from the in progress closing down of Empire, her military was still formidable. There is a stirring photo of three Royal Navy Carriers in line somewhere in the Mediterranean on their way to Suez, and in pure military terms, the land, sea and air action was a success.
I love it how, as a spent power and nobody, as you regularly remind us all, that an American is on a UK centric defence website.
Why waste your time?
You could be getting the tissues out as we speak on the mighty US armed forces.
Or, do you have a put down agenda for some reason?
I’ve been on this site a long time, I remember people, and posts.
I don’t recall you ever having anything positive to say.
So…Why? Why are you here? Family?
Hi Daniele. I hope you are well my friend. Google Operation Musketeer-Task Force 345. Here you will find the photo I was referring to. The UK fielded FIVE Carriers in that Task Force of which three are shown in the photo. The UK may been in decline during that period(until Maggie arrived a few decades later) but our Navy was still the second largest in the World, and the allies quickly and easily achieved a military success, despite the political drama!
Cheers for now! G
Afternoon my friend. Decline is natural after having the biggest empire the world had ever seen. Even today as mere nobodies we are one of the world’s biggest economies, and a lot else besides. I say this as the endless put downs here by many posters, no doubt by design, irritate. Be they true, or not, like Suez. In Maggie’s era, I had a gigantic book on the world’s navies that, in 89, put us 3rd in size, as by then the Soviet Union dwarfed the RN with its fleets. In the mid 90s I also read we still had… Read more »
Oh we’ve made lots of stupid decisions when it comes to the United States. Making it possible for them to build an atomic bomb was one of our bigger one’s. Giving them a jet engine to copy was another. Or hundreds of tonnes of imperial gold to buy military equipment to fight a murderous dictator. While good old Uncle Sam proffed big time. The biggest one though is trusting them. The United States government cannot be relied upon to do support anything, unless its in their interest. Even their own people don’t trust it. That’s why they all have guns.
The Hercules in its many forms is an amazing aircraft. When you consider it first flew about 70 years ago, and at least superficially looks the same, there are few aviation success stories to match this one! The SAAF operated them along with many other nations. I’m sure Klonkie had been a passenger thereon, on a few occasions?😉
Hi Geoff I was just watching the NZ News channel. A good piece on the arrival of the first C130J in NZ. The RNZAF will receive a total of 5.
Incredible that the SAAF C 130’s are still flying- been on the SAAF books since 1963!
Hey Klonkie-1963 was the year I arrived in South Africa from Zim following a two day train trip from Harare to Durban! The SAAF were also still operating Lancasters😃😅!! – wearing their Shackleton clothing!
Cheers
The Mk 3s’ were very different to the Mk 1s’ which really were the grandchild of the Lanc. (Except for climbing over that bloody main spar at “0300” when full of Honkers Stew)
😬
Mate I miss those Shacks big time! I was posted to AFB Swartkop when the last pair arrived on retirement to the SAAF museum. We were treated to a low level fly past! That was 1984, 40 years ago.
Wow Klonkie-that must have been a sight to remember!
Let’s be realistic the next iteration of transportation for the roles this aircraft used to provide the UK will be provided by some hideous autonomous drone type aircraft running on the next generation of battery so it is almost silent. A revolution in lift tech is on the horizon and everyone will laugh at the thought of those noisy smelly C130Js their Dad used to fly in.
It was nice to get one that could actually hold pressure and not feel like you were almost suffocating across the Atlantic.