The fifth of the six C-130J Super Hercules, an advanced transport aircraft, ordered by the Indian Air Force has been delivered, its American manufacturer Lockheed Martin said.
The aircraft departed the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta yesterday.
“This aircraft, like its predecessors, was delivered well ahead of schedule and is now en route to Hindan Hindan Air Force Station in India,” Lockheed said in a statement.
India’s sixth C-130J will be delivered in October, it said.
The six C-130Js will give the Indian Air Force new special operations capabilities using the world’s most advanced airlifter, it said.
The C-130J is a comprehensive update of the venerable Lockheed C0-130 Hercules, with new engines, flight deck, and other systems.
The Indian Air Force purchased six C-130J-30s in early 2008 at a cost of up to $1.059 billion. It is a package deal with the US government under its Foreign Military sales programme, and India has retained option to buy six more of these aircraft for its special forces for combined Army-Air Force operations.