The first South Korean C-130J made its inaugural flight at Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Marietta, Ga., announced company officials. Aircraft No. 5730, one of four C-130Js that South Korea ordered in late 2010, flew on Aug. 14, states the company’s release. These airplanes are scheduled for delivery in 2014, according to the company. South Korea currently flies the C-130H model. Lockheed Martin unveiled the paint scheme for the South Korean aircraft in June.
Facing competition from fast-growing startups, Lockheed Martin is speeding up production of an “affordable, scalable” hypersonic glide body, dubbed the Next Generation Glide Body, the firm said in a June 24 release.