According to the Jane's article below, the RAAF deemed the only suitable replacement for their existing C-130Js was newer C-130Js. This is great news for the Lockheed program and continues to show the longevity of the Herc.

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is to replace its fleet of 12 Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical transports with a new and expanded fleet of the same type, the country's Department of Defence (DoD) announced on 1 November.

“Defence has identified that the new C-130J aircraft represents the only option that meets all of Australia's capability requirements and assures Defence's medium air mobility capability without substantial cost, schedule, and capability risk,” the DoD said.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/australia-to-replace-super-hercules-fleet-with-new-c-130js

Interesting. I didn't read much about that procurement, were they seriously looking at the Embraer or Airbus?

texl1649 wrote:

Interesting. I didn't read much about that procurement, were they seriously looking at the Embraer or Airbus?

Airbus confirmed the A400 was part of the evaluation, but I'm not sure about Embraer.

Airbus Defence and Space Head of Military Aircraft Jean-Brice Dumont overnight confirmed discussions with Defence. “Are there discussions with the Australian Government? Of course, yes,” Dumont told ADM.

“Can I be more specific? No. Is the A400M part of the discussions? Yes.”

https://www.australiandefence.com.au/defence/air/more-hercules-for-raaf

How old is the fleet of C-130J that the RAAF is replacing?

hk144 wrote:

https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/australia-c-130j-30-aircraft

Doubling of the fleet, nice improvement.

Interesting to see six KC-130J are to be purchased.

The Growlers with their jamming pods and external fuel tanks really struggle to refuel off the A330 MRTT fleet. So this makes sense to have the A330 MRTT out front with the clean and fast F-35.

It would be interesting to know if the KC-130 will refuel any helicopters or drones.

texl1649 wrote:

Interesting. I didn't read much about that procurement, were they seriously looking at the Embraer or Airbus?

The Australian military has been very quiet when it comes to recent purchases. That's definitely a good thing in the age of social media. The last thing you want is all the arm chair generals derailing the procurement like in Switzerland.

RJMAZ wrote:

Interesting to see six KC-130J are to be purchased.

The Growlers with their jamming pods and external fuel tanks really struggle to refuel off the A330 MRTT fleet. So this makes sense to have the A330 MRTT out front with the clean and fast F-35.

It would be interesting to know if the KC-130 will refuel any helicopters or drones.

texl1649 wrote:

Interesting. I didn't read much about that procurement, were they seriously looking at the Embraer or Airbus?

The Australian military has been very quiet when it comes to recent purchases. That's definitely a good thing in the age of social media. The last thing you want is all the arm chair generals derailing the procurement like in Switzerland.

You sure on the KC-130J?

Can’t see it listed

A101 wrote:

You sure on the KC-130J?

Can’t see it listed

Link in the first post

30 C-130J Hercules – 24 C-130J-30s and six KC-130J air-to-air refuelling variants.

That's a huge boost to refueling capability. 13 tankers is a strong sign Australia will be projecting power to the South China Sea. That is 1 tanker for every 8 combat aircraft which might actually be the best ratio in the world.

RJMAZ wrote:

A101 wrote:

You sure on the KC-130J?

Can’t see it listed

Link in the first post

30 C-130J Hercules – 24 C-130J-30s and six KC-130J air-to-air refuelling variants.

That's a huge boost to refueling capability. 13 tankers is a strong sign Australia will be projecting power to the South China Sea. That is 1 tanker for every 8 combat aircraft which might actually be the best ratio in the world.

It's not what the Australian news outlets are reporting. It's only 24.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-03/ ... /101610818

Of the Australian Government

https://news.defence.gov.au/media/media ... eplacement

RJMAZ wrote:

A101 wrote:

You sure on the KC-130J?

Can’t see it listed

Link in the first post

30 C-130J Hercules – 24 C-130J-30s and six KC-130J air-to-air refuelling variants.

That's a huge boost to refueling capability. 13 tankers is a strong sign Australia will be projecting power to the South China Sea. That is 1 tanker for every 8 combat aircraft which might actually be the best ratio in the world.

The DSCA is only for 24 aircraft, not to say it won’t happen but it might come under a different project number and may be announced when the current ALP government decides if the NH90 will be replaced or not as at the moment no real need for more probe refueling of aircraft as the Hornets are the only aircraft to accept it

A101 wrote:

RJMAZ wrote:

A101 wrote:

You sure on the KC-130J?

Can’t see it listed

Link in the first post

30 C-130J Hercules – 24 C-130J-30s and six KC-130J air-to-air refuelling variants.

That's a huge boost to refueling capability. 13 tankers is a strong sign Australia will be projecting power to the South China Sea. That is 1 tanker for every 8 combat aircraft which might actually be the best ratio in the world.

The DSCA is only for 24 aircraft, not to say it won’t happen but it might come under a different project number and may be announced when the current ALP government decides if the NH90 will be replaced or not as at the moment no real need for more probe refueling of aircraft as the Hornets are the only aircraft to accept it

There are still the Super Hornets and Growlers, that's 36 aircraft once the replacement Growler is inducted. I would've thought they may have been used for refueling USMC F-35's when they are deployed to Australia as well. But as noted, there is nothing in the DSCA that mentions any refueling equipment or capabilities.

LTEN11 wrote:

A101 wrote:

RJMAZ wrote:

Link in the first post



That's a huge boost to refueling capability. 13 tankers is a strong sign Australia will be projecting power to the South China Sea. That is 1 tanker for every 8 combat aircraft which might actually be the best ratio in the world.

The DSCA is only for 24 aircraft, not to say it won’t happen but it might come under a different project number and may be announced when the current ALP government decides if the NH90 will be replaced or not as at the moment no real need for more probe refueling of aircraft as the Hornets are the only aircraft to accept it

There are still the Super Hornets and Growlers, that's 36 aircraft once the replacement Growler is inducted. I would've thought they may have been used for refueling USMC F-35's when they are deployed to Australia as well. But as noted, there is nothing in the DSCA that mentions any refueling equipment or capabilities.

Yep, that's what I was referring to as the classic Hornets are just a footnote in the history books with the RAAF now

889091 wrote:

How old is the fleet of C-130J that the RAAF is replacing?

By the time the new units come in, the original batch will be 30 years old!

aumaverick wrote:

889091 wrote:

How old is the fleet of C-130J that the RAAF is replacing?

By the time the new units come in, the original batch will be 30 years old!

A 30 yr old Herc isn't that old - Lockheed built those things like a tank! Plus, doesn't it also depend on the number of cycles? Has the RAAF been running the fleet to the ground?

What about the C-130Js being retired by the RAF? Would the RAAF consider getting second hand birds?

889091 wrote:

aumaverick wrote:

889091 wrote:

How old is the fleet of C-130J that the RAAF is replacing?

By the time the new units come in, the original batch will be 30 years old!

A 30 yr old Herc isn't that old - Lockheed built those things like a tank! Plus, doesn't it also depend on the number of cycles? Has the RAAF been running the fleet to the ground?

What about the C-130Js being retired by the RAF? Would the RAAF consider getting second hand birds?

We know the C-130 is a workhorse, but it does not mean the aircraft is meant to be flown indefinitely. Without specific hours, it does appear that the RAAF does indeed know that some, if not all, of No 37 Squadron's Herc will reach their 30 year lifespan.

Australia’s C-130Js received from 1999-2001 will reach their 30-year life of type in FY2030-31. The name for this RAAF replacement and expansion exercise is Project Air 7404 Phase 1.

It was also noted that the RFP for this project was thought to include the Airbus A400M, Embraer C-390 and Kawasaki C-2.

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/australia-to-replace-c-130j-withc-130j/

The Royal Air Force currently lists one remaining short-bodied C-130J C5 aircraft and 13 of the long-bodied C-130J-30 C4 variants amongst its assets. The aircraft are operated respectively by 47 and 24 Squadrons based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

I know the USMC took one of the Herc to replace Fat Albert. The other Hercs are the same age as the RAAF Hercs in questions, so would likely not be considered as a replacement due to age.

https://battle-updates.com/mod-needs-to-reverse-decision-to-divest-raf-c-130j-capability-by-howard-wheeldon-fraes-wheeldon-strategic-advisory-ltd/

889091 wrote:

aumaverick wrote:

889091 wrote:

How old is the fleet of C-130J that the RAAF is replacing?

By the time the new units come in, the original batch will be 30 years old!

A 30 yr old Herc isn't that old - Lockheed built those things like a tank! Plus, doesn't it also depend on the number of cycles? Has the RAAF been running the fleet to the ground?

What about the C-130Js being retired by the RAF? Would the RAAF consider getting second hand birds?

Unless a lot of the time was spent flying tactically. Anything tactical will certainly prematurely age and airframe.

I've tried surfing the web to find the backlog for the C-130's all versions. In contrast to most programs such as the KC-46, F-35, C-17 and the A-400M where a Orders and Deliveries spreadsheet can be made, the C-130 seems to be 'hidden.'

What is the production rate as well? 30 a year?

889091 wrote:

aumaverick wrote:

889091 wrote:

How old is the fleet of C-130J that the RAAF is replacing?

By the time the new units come in, the original batch will be 30 years old!

A 30 yr old Herc isn't that old - Lockheed built those things like a tank! Plus, doesn't it also depend on the number of cycles? Has the RAAF been running the fleet to the ground?

What about the C-130Js being retired by the RAF? Would the RAAF consider getting second hand birds?

The RAF C-130J fleet was coming up against some very expensive work due to the fact that the RAF was the launch customer for the C-130J.

For one, RAF C-130J's were slated to get the centre wing box replaced, due to heavy usage. That's a very expensive and necessary structural repair job.

Another major issue is the avionics; RAF C-130J's are of an earlier avionics configuration that is not common with later production aircraft, and the RAF never did upgrade the birds in accordance with other nations. I believe the RAF birds are currently Block 6, while almost everyone else is at Block 7 and later (the latest Block is Block 8.1). The costs to switch are pretty substantial (been told it's a multi-million dollar per aircraft upgrade), and there are significant differences when it comes to training. The later Blocks add significant improvements to the capability (such as being able to fly full RNAV approaches), along with future-proofing against new ATC regulations.