India’s First C-130J Fledges the Nest

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

India’s first C-130J has made its maiden flight from Lockheed Martin’s assembly plant in Marietta, Ga., the company announced. Lockheed officials expect to deliver this airplane, the first of six “stretch-model” C-130J-30s being built for the Indian air force, in December. The Hercules flew roughly two hours Oct. 4, during which all of its basic systems were tested without incident, according to the company. The Indian C-130Js will be equipped with an aerial-refueling probe and a turret-mounted AAQ-22 infra-red/electro-optical surveillance and targeting suite that enables night/low-level operations. Lockheed anticipates completion and first flight of a further two Indian C-130Js within the next several weeks. (See also Snapshot of India from the Daily Report archives.)

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org