France confirms buying four C-130J US transport planes

Gestart door Sparkplug, 02/01/2016 | 19:43 uur

Sparkplug

French Air Force adds mid-air helicopter refuelling capability with new KC-130Js

09 JULY 2020

by Emmanuel Huberdeau

Two Lockheed Martin KC-130J Super Hercules tankers are operational with the French Air Force, meaning France now has its own mid-air refuelling capability for its Airbus H225 Caracal helicopters and is part of the small club of countries that can conduct long-range helicopter operations.

The two KC-130Js operated by the French Air Force were delivered, respectively, in late 2019 and early 2020. The aircraft were ordered in 2015 from the United States via a Foreign Military Sales process along with two C-130J-30s. France has been operating the C-130H Hercules since 1987. The fleet comprises 14 C-130H and C-130H-30 aircraft based in Orleans.

The decision to acquire the C-130J and KC-130J was motivated by the fact that the C-160 Transall, which has been France's main tactical transport aircraft for decades, was being phased out (only a dozen are still in service), unsatisfactory availability of the C-130Hs at the time, and delays in the delivery of the Airbus A400Ms.

Since 2006, Armee de l'Air has been operating 10 H225M Caracal helicopters equipped with mid-air refuelling probes. This system allows up to 10 hours of flight time. The Caracal was originally acquired to conduct mainly combat search-and-rescue missions, giving the air force a capability to recover its downed pilots behind enemy lines.

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The KC-130J and the Caracal are soon to be cleared for air-to-air refuelling operations. (French Air Force)

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/french-air-force-adds-mid-air-helicopter-refuelling-capability-with-new-kc-130js
A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Sparkplug

France receives second and final KC-130J tanker-transport

https://www.janes.com/article/94175/france-receives-second-and-final-kc-130j-tanker-transport


The second of two KC-130Js and the last of four new Hercules for the French Air Force were handed over to service officials at the Marietta production facility in the United States on 4 February. (Lockheed Martin)
A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Sparkplug

A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Sparkplug

A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Sparkplug

A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Sparkplug

Lockheed awarded USD170 million in C-130J work for France

Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly - 02 December 2016


France is to receive two C-130J-30 and two KC-130J aircraft to augment is ageing C-160 and C-130H transport fleets and to compensate for delays to its A400Ms. (US Air Force)


Lockheed Martin has been awarded two separate contracts pertaining to France's procurement of four C-130J Hercules transport and tanker aircraft valued at a combined USD170 million.

The contracts awarded on 1 December are for USD133.4 million and USD36.6 million, and cover the procurement of two stretched C-130J-30 airlifters and for configuration changes to two C-130J-30 airlifters and two KC-130J tankers respectively.

Work on the first contract for the two baseline C-130J-30s should be complete by 30 August 2020, while the configuration changes to these aircraft and the additional pair of KC-130Js is scheduled to be complete by 30 April 2020.

The French Air Force is purchasing four C/KC-130J aircraft to supplement its ageing Transall C-160s, and to compensate for delays to the Airbus Defence and Space A400M transport aircraft and the low availability of its current fleet of C-130Hs.

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http://www.janes.com/article/65941/lockheed-awarded-usd170-million-in-c-130j-work-for-france
A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Sparkplug

Special Operations: France Adopts Harvest Hawk (edited excerpt)

Strategy Page | April 3, 2016

France is buying missiles, sensors and fire control equipment to quickly convert its C-130J transports to gunships. This is done using a version of the Harvest Hawk kits developed by the U.S. Marine Corps. First use was in 2010 over Afghanistan and they were considered a success.

This "instant gunship" system works by packaging weapons and sensors so they can be quickly rolled into a C-130 transport and hooked up. This takes a few hours and turns the C-130 into a gunship (similar in capabilities existing AC-130 gunships).

The Harvest Hawk sensor package consists of day/night video cameras with magnification capability. .../...

The French version will only use the Griffin, which is a 20.5 kg (45 pounds) glide bomb that has a 5.9 kg (13 pound) warhead. Griffin has a greater range (15 kilometers) than Hellfire because of pop-out wings that allow it to glide after launch. Griffin uses laser targeting plus GPS, and inertial guidance. .../...

France has ordered four Lockheed Martin C-130J transports in late 2015. France already operates 14 of the older C-130H aircraft. (end of excerpt)

Click here for the full story, on the Strategy Page blog.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/172734/france-buys-harvest-hawk-gunship-kit-for-hercules-transports.html
A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Sparkplug

French government confirms C-130J buy

By Beth Stevenson, London | 04 February 2016

France has confirmed its purchase of four Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules tactical transports, two of which will have the ability to refuel France's rotorcraft fleet.

A contract for the acquisition was signed on 29 January, two months after the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency authorised the sale of two C-130Js, two extended-range Lockheed Martin KC-130J tankers, and a spare set of four Rolls-Royce AE 2100D turboprop engines.

Ordered from the US Air Force via the Foreign Military Sales programme, the C-130Js will be delivered in 2017/18, the French DGA procurement agency says, with the two tankers following in 2019.

The two variants will complement France's C-160R Transall and Lockheed C-130H Hercules aircraft, and are being rapidly acquired to support aerial refuelling of its rotorcraft fleet, a mission unable to be performed by its new Airbus Defence & Space A400M.

The deal was valued at $355 million when approved in November, and includes the aircraft, engines, support and training.

France also hopes to arm the type with the Lockheed AGM-114K1A Hellfire air-to-surface missile used aboard its Airbus Helicopters Tiger attack rotorcraft.


US Marine Corps KC-130J
US Marine Corps

Flightglobal's Fleets Analyzer database shows France to have an active inventory of 31 C-160R and five C-130H. It also has an inventory of eight A400Ms plus 42 more on order.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/french-government-confirms-c-130j-buy-421606/
A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Elzenga

Citaat van: andré herc op 03/01/2016 | 01:31 uur
Ik heb het van bronnen die dagelijks met strategisch  luchttransport te maken hebben bij defensie!
tja...belangrijke info...aan de andere kant..als ik de JSF discussie (terug) zie...soms ook om met een korreltje zout te nemen...

Elzenga

Citaat van: Sparkplug op 02/01/2016 | 22:36 uur
Met de KC-135 en A330MRTT kunnen de Caracals niet worden bijgetankt. Een KC-130 variant is hier wel voor geschikt. De A400M als tanker zou dit in de toekomst ook moeten kunnen.
Inderdaad...maar de A400M veroorzaakt nu nog te grote turbulentie om helikopters als de Caracals binnen veiligheidsmarge te tanken. Vindt men te riskant. Airbus is aan het bekijken hoe dit kan worden opgelost. Dat duurt Frankrijk..zeker gezien de huidige oorlog tegen IS en soortgelijke groeperingen en grote inzet van Franse SOF daarbij..te lang. Vandaar aanschaf C130 en KC130s.

andré herc

Citaat van: Belgje op 03/01/2016 | 01:20 uur
Landingsvereisten voor C130 en A400m zijn zo goed als gelijk dacht ik. 850m dirtstrip ofzo.

Ik heb het van bronnen die dagelijks met strategisch  luchttransport te maken hebben bij defensie!
Den Haag stop met afbreken van NL Defensie, en investeer in een eigen C-17.

Belgje

Citaat van: andré herc op 02/01/2016 | 23:07 uur
Ik wil hier toch ook wel effe bij vermelden wat ik al diverse keren onder aandacht heb gebracht als het over de aanschaf van de A400M of de C-130J gaat de Hercules ook gewoon beter geschikt is voor het vervoer van special forces gezien het terrein waar ze het meest ingezet worden zoals Afrika en het Midden Oosten bijvoorbeeld de Belgen die volledig overgaan op de A400M kunnen dan wel eens voor een probleem komen te staan of dan nog meer een beroep gaan doen op de Nederlandse Herculessen en dan is vier niet veel maar nu ga ik off topic ;)

Landingsvereisten voor C130 en A400m zijn zo goed als gelijk dacht ik. 850m dirtstrip ofzo.

andré herc

Ik wil hier toch ook wel effe bij vermelden wat ik al diverse keren onder aandacht heb gebracht als het over de aanschaf van de A400M of de C-130J gaat de Hercules ook gewoon beter geschikt is voor het vervoer van special forces gezien het terrein waar ze het meest ingezet worden zoals Afrika en het Midden Oosten bijvoorbeeld de Belgen die volledig overgaan op de A400M kunnen dan wel eens voor een probleem komen te staan of dan nog meer een beroep gaan doen op de Nederlandse Herculessen en dan is vier niet veel maar nu ga ik off topic ;)
Den Haag stop met afbreken van NL Defensie, en investeer in een eigen C-17.

Sparkplug

Citaat van: JdL op 02/01/2016 | 22:22 uur
Hebben ze daar niet genoeg KC-135's en A330MRTT's voor?
De C-160 die de A400M moet vervangen kan toch ook niet tanken?
Met de KC-135 en A330MRTT kunnen de Caracals niet worden bijgetankt. Een KC-130 variant is hier wel voor geschikt. De A400M als tanker zou dit in de toekomst ook moeten kunnen.
A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

JdL

Citaat van: Elzenga op 02/01/2016 | 22:15 uur
Ja vooral de KC-130Js zijn geloof ik hard nodig..omdat de A400Ms geen SOF helikopters kunnen bijtanken (nog)...
Hebben ze daar niet genoeg KC-135's en A330MRTT's voor?
De C-160 die de A400M moet vervangen kan toch ook niet tanken?
'The goal is world peace, and to do so you must have strength' Ronald Reagan