Romania buys C-27J/India, Israel thinking of C-130J

[MarkOttawa]

Romania to buy C-27J airlifter
Aviation Week & Space Technology
12/11/2006, page 14
http://www.aviationweek.com/search/AvnowSearchResult.do?reference=xml/awst_xml/2006/12/11/AW_12_11_2006_p14-02.xml&query=c-27J

The Romanian air force has selected the Alenia Aeronautica C-27J tactical transport aircraft as its future airlift platform. The contract for seven of the twin-turboprops is anticipated by year-end, with deliveries to start in 2008. Contract specifics are being ironed out, but the deal is expected to be worth around €220 million ($293 million). The EADS CASA C-295 was the losing bidder. The Romanian air force wants to deploy the C-27J abroad and has therefore opted for the same advanced Elettronica defensive aid subsystem that is installed on the Italian air force version, though not the refueling probe or twin head-up displays. The Romanian air force is replacing An-24s and An-26s.

India eyes first US military aircraft
Reuters,  Dec 16, 2006
http://in.today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-12-16T042331Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-280457-2.xml

India has sought information on buying what would be its first U.S. military aircraft, six Lockheed Martin C-130J "Super Hercules" cargo planes, U.S. Air Force officials and others said Friday.

A request for details of a possible purchase from the Indian defense ministry was delivered to the U.S. embassy in New Delhi, which forwarded it to the Air Force's office of international affairs, said Dewey Mitchell, an Air Force spokesman.

"Consideration begins upon receipt of the request," he said in a written reply to queries from Reuters.

Two other people familiar with the matter said India had asked about buying six C-130Js in a letter received by U.S. officials Thursday.

The four-engine turboprop C-130, built by Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed Martin Corp., is the U.S. Air Force's workhorse cargo and personnel transport aircraft. The "J" is its latest model.

Lockheed Martin referred queries about the matter to U.S. officials. The State Department had no immediate comment.

The Indian request for information about a C-130J sale came days after a trade mission to India by the Aerospace Industries Association, which represents top U.S. defense contractors among others.

The C-130J, used by the U.S. Air Force in Iraq, is capable of short takeoffs and landings from unprepared runways. The price per aircraft may top $70 million, depending on configuration.

The possible sale is subject to U.S. congressional approval.

It would be the first Indian purchase of U.S. military aircraft. U.S. President George W. Bush has sought to develop closer operational ties with India's armed forces, partly as a hedge against China.

The Bush administration already has offered India a choice of two U.S. fighter aircraft -- Lockheed's F-16 and Boeing Co.'s F-18 SuperHornet -- as entrants in a multi-role fighter aircraft competition New Delhi is organizing.

Israel prepares for renewal of Lockheed Martin C-130 fleet
Flight International, Nov. 21
http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/11/21/Navigation/177/210618/Israel+prepares+for+renewal+of+C-130+fleet.html

Israel plans to use the results of a survey of the actual flight hours accumulated by its air force Lockheed Martin C-130s to support a decision on whether to replace them with latest-generation C-130Js.

The analysis uses an algorithm developed by Lockheed and the US Air Force designed to determine the stresses experienced by each of the air force's C-130E/Hs since they entered service.

The air force operates its C-130s under extreme conditions, performing low flights over desert areas and take-offs and landings on improvised strips.

The air force wants at least four to six C-130Js to replace C-130Es that are approaching 45 years of age and were given to Israel by the USA from its surplus Vietnam inventory...

The Israeli general staff is expected to make a decision in early 2007 as part of its annual procurement package. An air force source says one option is to purchase a "limited" number of C-130Js to replace the service's oldest C-130Es...

Mark
Ottawa

 

[geo]

130Es..... yeah - we have those as well.......... tired puppies..

Have we signed that contract for the Js
If Israel & India get into line before we do, we'll be waiting a long long time before we take delivery of sorely needed kit.

C27Js..... Technicaly - it's the machine that could / should replace the Buffalos.
We should look into something before we fly ours into the ground........