Lockheed Martin delivered the first C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical transport turboprop to the Indonesian Air Force (IDAF) on Thursday.
The aircraft is part of an agreement for five units that will replace aging C-130s in service since the 1960s.
“Indonesian Air Force crews have long trusted the C-130 to support the most challenging of missions facing Indonesia and other nations in the Pacific,” said Rod McLean, vice president and general manager, Air Mobility & Maritime Missions programs at Lockheed Martin.
Follow ADN: Facebook | Twitter
The Indonesian Air Force signed an agreement with Lockheed in 2019, but only in September 2021 did it make the contract public.
According to World Air Forces 2023, Indonesia has 24 turboprops in operation, including the C-130B, (K)C-130H and the L-100, the civil variant of the Hercules.
According to Lockheed Martin, the C-130J Super Hercules currently has 26 operators in 22 nations, with more than 520 aircraft delivered.
Its main rival is the KC-390 Millennium, an airlifter jet developed by Embraer that offers superior performance in several aspects.
Despite this, the Brazilian aircraft has so far 31 orders from four customers, including five aircraft ordered by the Netherlands, but which have not yet had the contract signed.
