Australia buys 20 C-130s from the U.S. — for $6.6 billion
Australia plans to buy 20 new C-130 Hercules aircraft from the United States in a $9.8 billion AUD ($6.6 billion USD) deal that will increase by two-thirds the size of the Royal Australian Air Force’s fleet of its second-largest heavy transport aircraft.
The announcement follows the U.S. Congress approval last year of a larger sale of 24 of the Lockheed Martin-manufactured propellor-driven aircraft.
The U.S. and Australia are conducting their biennial Talisman Sabre military exercise, according to an APNews report, along the Australian coast that this year involves 13 nations and more than 30,000 personnel — as global concerns intensify over an increasingly assertive China.
The first of the new 4-engine C-130s is expected in 2027. The deal was confirmed ahead of a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and their Australian counterparts for annual talks this week in Brisbane.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the federal government confirmed the purchase of 20 C-130s to expand and replace the current 12 aircraft operated by Defence. The heavy-lift aircraft can operate with short runways, dropping cargo and delivering personnel. The RAAF first took delivery of a C-130 in 1958, with the current fleet now more than 20 years old. Defence said the dozen existing C-130s would be replaced by 2030 and delivery of the remaining eight would be “subject to the U.S. production schedule.”
The C-130 Hercules have been involved in almost every major Australian Defence operation since they were first purchased, including civilian ops providing COVID vaccines and medical supplies, as well as during bushfires and floods. They are also often used in search and rescue missions.
Back in December, Australia added a new C-130 from Coulson along with a 737 to its resources, after an earlier issue with a C-130 tanker crash. In August of last year Bill Gabbert reported that three Americans were killed in a 2020 New South Wales accident involving the crash of Tanker 134.
While I am happy the Australians are getting some new planes, can I take a minute to thank them for sending Tanker 210 to California for the summer? It’s getting quite a bit of use all over the state. Hopefully, the C-130s that are supposed to enter the California tanker fleet will get a move on. I know it’s a complicated business and can’t be rushed, but my goodness, the existing tanker fleet is getting a workout this year.
Looks like Australia may end its use of Taipans … possible replacement = Black Hawks.
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/4-air-crew-members-missing-after-australian-army-101795688
Anyone here flown a Taipan?
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/mrh-90-taipan-dumped-by-australia-norway-european-designed/
Well I hope they are the new “J” models. Much better performance when the situation is rather “dicey”.
They are.
“The new C-130J Hercules aircraft will replace and expand upon the aging fleet of a dozen planes currently operated by the Royal Australian Air Force”
https://www.reuters.com/world/australia-buy-20-hercules-military-transport-planes-66-bln-deal-2023-07-24/
New air tankers, where did the article say that they were going to be converted to air tankers.
Johnny: Second to the last paragraph mentions bushfires. I’m curious to know if they will be going with MAFFS II slide in packages. RADS II remains in question unless they become dedicated sole mission fire birds.
So if the deal is for twenty C-130s for $6.6 billion, that means they’re paying $330 million per plane? Even taking info account modifications for tanker use and ferrying to Australia, that still seems really high but maybe there are details of the contract that haven’t been mentioned. Very curious to see additional details.
I believe the deal includes a support package including engines and other spares. With that said, the emphasis here seems to be merely on their military use, not for their use as firefighting assets. Perhaps some of the old Hercs could be used in a more permanent firefighting role as Australia certainly needs a larger domestically based fleet based on their history of major fires.
Ralph, did you see this?
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230719112556.htm
And I suspected right off just what you mention, that their older aircraft may stay on in fire roles.
Kelly, could you update the link please as it took me to an article on “self healing metals” and I am curious as i struggle to recall when the RAAF have undertakien fire bombing ops as opposed to transport and logistical support such as transporting patients form Bundaberg Hospital during the floods.
It’s a link to a new self-healing metals discovery, Andrew. Like cracks in C-130 wings for example. Amazing discovery, no idea what future applications might be, BUT I LIKE IT.
P.S. I think several of us are assuming that new military aircraft might translate later into re-purposed fire aircraft, as sometimes happens here in the U.S.
The Canadair scoopers are exceptions (in large airtankers here) but now what the USFS calls “next generation” airtankers (e.g. former passenger aircraft but not purpose-built like the CL-415 or the AirTractors) are not former military like almost all of our former airtanker fleet.