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747-237

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/indian-air-force-receives-first-lockheed-martin-c-130j-super-hercules-112014624.html

Indian Air Force Receives First Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules

MARIETTA, Ga., Dec. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) delivered the first of six C-130Js for the Indian Air Force at ceremonies here today. The new fleet was ordered under a $1.2 billion U.S. Foreign Military Sale (India's first) in late 2008.

"There are few mottos that impart such passion as that of the Indian Air Force, which is Touch the Sky With Glory," said Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin's vice president for C-130 Programs, during today's ceremony. "Today begins a new glorious, enduring partnership with India as the fourth largest air force in the world proudly joins the worldwide C-130 family."

This is India's first experience with the C-130 so the package being provided by the U.S. government is comprehensive. The contract includes six aircraft, training of aircrew and maintenance technicians, spares, ground support and test equipment, servicing carts, forklifts, loading vehicles, cargo pallets and a team of technical specialists who will be based in India during a three-year initial support period. Also included in the package is India-unique operational equipment designed to increase Special Operations capabilities. The first two C-130Js will be flown to India early next year, followed by the remaining four aircraft deliveries later in 2011. India's new airlift fleet will be based at Hindon Air Force Station.

The Indian Air Force's C-130J Super Hercules is a highly integrated and sophisticated configuration primarily designed to support India's special operations requirement. Equipped with an Infrared Detection Set (IDS), the aircraft can perform precision low-level flying, airdrops and landing in blackout conditions. Self-protection systems and other features are included to ensure aircraft survivability in hostile air defense environments. The aircraft also is equipped with air-to-air receiver refueling capability for extended range operations.

The C-130J is ideally suited to India's mission environment, which often involves operating out of austere, high-elevation airstrips in hot conditions. The C-130J is powered by four Rolls Royce AE2100 engines and Dowty six bladed props which provide the aircraft with tremendous power. The C-130J has been operated for the past several years in the mountainous areas of Afghanistan in conditions similar to India and performed exceptionally well.

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shivendrashukla · Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 10:26 am Post subject:

These are delivered to USAF as of now. They will fly into India around the Aero-India, which is in Feb next year.

Cheers
Shivendra

747-237 · Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 5:24 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 11:50 pm Post subject:

This was the last time the IAF took delivery of a 4 engine prop transport aircraft, when my dad was one of the IAF pilots to receive the AN-12.
Russia, 1961.
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shivendrashukla · Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 10:18 am Post subject:

iflytb20 · Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 1:04 pm Post subject:

Another ISO 9001 Certified FB [Fauji Brat] here Laughing

Dad is ex-Army Aviation
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himmat01 · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1392 Location: DEL

Add one more to the list. Very Happy

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The_Goat · Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 2:04 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 6:06 pm Post subject:

shivendrashukla · Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 6:27 pm Post subject:

An-32 too have been converted for carpet bombing operations.

Cheers
Shivendra

747-237 · Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 7:05 pm Post subject:

C-130J aircraft from US to arrive this week

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_c-130j-aircraft-from-us-to-arrive-this-week_1495220
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747-237 · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 7:56 am Post subject:

http://news.oneindia.in/2011/01/24/herculesto-be-inducted-in-iaf-on-feb5-aid0126.html

''Hercules'' to be inducted in IAF on Feb 5

New Delhi, Jan 24 (PTI) Boosting its Special Operationscapabilities, the Indian Air Force will formally induct itsfirst C-130 J ''Hercules'' transport aircraft on February 5.

Buzz up!The aircraft is likely to arrive in the country by theend of this month and would be formally inducted into the IAFat a ceremony at its home base Hindan air base near here onFebruary 5, IAF officials said here.

The first of the six aircraft procured by India under aUSD 970 million deal was handed over to IAF in mid-December.

The aircraft is expected to enhance IAF''s special missionscapability along with transporting men and material.

India had purchased the aircraft under the US government''sForeign Military Sales route that includes an offset clauseunder which the firm will invest 30 per cent of the dealamount back in Indian defence industry.

The aircraft will be based at Hindan in Ghaziabad justoutside the capital, where the infrastructure for itsdeployment has been completed.

The aircraft would also be pressed into service fortransporting special forces from the capital to other placesin the country in case need arises.

The US government had offered a unique C-130Jconfiguration modified for special mission roles and thesewill be the first uniquely configured aircraft in the IAFfleet for its special operations.

The aircraft will be able to perform precision low-levelflying, air drops, and landing in blackout conditions. Specialfeatures are included to ensure aircraft survivability inhostile air defence environment.

India is also planning to place orders for six moresimilar aircraft and likely to send a Letter of Request to theUS Government in this regard in near future.
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747-237 · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 7:56 am Post subject:

Two more C-130Js have been delivered to the IAF, with regns. KC-3804 & KC-3805.
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747-237 · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 9:58 pm Post subject:

http://www.cisionwire.com/lockheed-martin-news/r/india---just-one-more-to-go,c6661

September 8th, 2011 -- The fifth of six C-130J Super Hercules on order for the Indian Air Force has departed the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta. This aircraft, like its predecessors, was delivered well ahead of schedule and is now en route to Air Force Station Hindan in India. India’s sixth C-130J will be delivered in October.
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747-237 · Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2011 3:23 am Post subject:

US delivers last Super Hercules cargo plane this weekend
23 Dec, 2011

India is all set to induct the last of the six C-130J Super Hercules cargo plane for its Special Forces this weekend, with the US major Lockheed Martin flying out the aircraft from its Marietta facility near Atlanta in US on Dec 15.

The aircraft fleet of six was bought by India in January 2008 for $1.2 billion and Lockheed Martin began delivery of the fleet in January 2011. The first of the six aircraft was inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) at the Hindon air base in Ghaziabad near the Indian capital in February this year.

"Number six of the six C-130J Super Hercules ordered by India, under the US Foreign Military Sales programme, departed Marietta on Dec 15. This aircraft, like its five predecessors, was delivered ahead of schedule and under budget," a Lockheed Martin official told IANS.

"The aircraft is scheduled to arrive at Hindon this weekend," an IAF officer told IANS, when asked about its arrival.

Since ordering the six planes for its Special Forces operations, India has made a case for buying additional six of these aircraft and the agreement in this regard is all ready for signing, according to the IAF official.

The IAF has already used these planes for carrying out operations, particularly of the humanitarian assistance variety soon after the fleet's induction.

In the aftermath of the severe 6.8 magnitude earthquake in September this year, the C-130J was the first of the planes to fly to the nearest air base in Baghdogra in West Bengal, carrying relief supplies and National Disaster Management Force members, within a flying time of under three hours.

It also did several more sorties to carry relief material for the victims of the earthquake.

On Dec 12 this year, the IAF simulated a piracy contingency at Campbell Bay in Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, the furthermost island territory of India, based on intelligence input that an Indian merchant ship had been hijacked with hostages.

The mission simulated launching of a Para Special Forces team into the area using C-130J as airborne platform. During planning for the mock drill, the objective was found to be 3,500 nautical miles away and the route was fixed through Kolkata and Port Blair to the drop zone over Campbell Bay. The round trip would have required a staggering 12 hours of flying, the IAF official said.

The C-130J that day did a non-stop mission of 12 hours and three minutes without refuelling en route, completing the simulated mission with success, the official said.

The four-engine turboprop military transport plane has a minimum crew of three members comprising two pilots and a load master, can carry 64 fully geared troops and has the capability for a 20-tonne cargo. It can touch speeds of 700 kmph and can take off from landing strips of about 1,000 metres.
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sabya99 · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 12:06 am Post subject:

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

...An-32, you mean, right? The An-26 was the `An-24 with a cargo door'. The An-12 was known as the `Mountain Geese' with the IAF.
Cheers, Sumantra.

The_Goat · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 6:00 pm Post subject:

sabya99 · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 11:36 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 12:49 am Post subject:

http://dailypioneer.com/nation/55544-iaf-to-deploy-c-130j-squadron-in-bengal.html

IAF to deploy C-130J squadron in Bengal

06 April 2012

The Indian Air Force has now decided to deploy its additional six C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft at Panagarh in West Bengal — the likely location of a proposed Army Mountain Corps headquarter — and not in Odisha.

The IAF was earlier planning to deploy the six aircraft in Charbatia in Odisha and an announcement in this regard was made by IAF at a Press conference on October 3.

“We already have an airfield under the Eastern Air Command there in Panagarh and now it has been decided that the additional six C-130Js would be deployed there,” IAF officials said.

The six aircraft would be used by the IAF for looking after the requirements in the North-East and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, they said.

The first six C-130Js, procured at a cost of around USD one billion, have been deployed in Hindon airbase near here and have already started taking part in special operations. The IAF has already sent a Letter of Request (LoR) to the US Government for acquiring another six aircraft.

Officials said representatives from Lockheed Martin-- the American manufacturer of these aircraft — have already carried out a survey of the location for developing the infrastructure for these aircraft.

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sabya99 · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 7:12 am Post subject:

That will be wonderful news, as Panaghar airbase was originally part of hump operation during WW II. Perhaps this base needs more apron areas and some hardened hangers as the infrastructure is crumbling. But there are space for expansion. Here is a Google view of Panaghar airbase:
Panaghar air base: http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=23.475233&lon=87.4331045&z=16&l=0&m=b
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sabya99 · Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 6:17 pm Post subject:

Airbase at Panagarh by next year

Barrackpore, West Bengal, June 29: The IAF wants to convert Panagarh, now an airstrip largely used for emergency landing, into a permanent airbase by the end of 2013.
“We want to start full-fledged operations in Panagarh by the end of next year,” Air Marshal S. Varthaman, the air officer commanding-in-charge of the Eastern Air Command said today on the sidelines of an event at the Barrackpore airbase in North-24 Parganas. “We have all the necessary infrastructure, including land. It should not be a problem.”
Once Panagarh becomes fully operational, it will not only bolster the IAF’s operations in the east but also serve as an important base from where mid-air refuelling could be carried out, sources said.
The Eastern Air Command inducted a Mi-17 V5 helicopter at the Barrackpore air base, the first IAF aircraft that comes fitted with third-generation night-vision goggles (NVG) and a Bambi bucket fire-fighting system to take up any civilian or military challenge.
The Russian-made aircraft, according to Varthaman, would be able to pick up three-and-a-half tonnes of water from any reservoir in the bucket, which remains suspended below, and air-drop it over any area affected by fire.
The Telegraph : http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120630/jsp/bengal/story_15674361.jsp
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