Lockheed Martin delivered the 2,700th C-130 Hercules airlifter, built at the company’s Marietta plant.
This plane is, more specifically, a KC-130J Super Hercules tanker operated by the U.S. Marine Corps Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 at Marine Corps Air Station at Cherry Point, North Carolina, according to Lockheed.
There are 70 countries that fly C-130 airlifters, according to Lockheed. The current C-130 production model is the C-130J Super Hercules, which includes the KC-130J tactical tanker. To date, the C-130J is certified to support 18 different mission requirements.
The global C-130J fleet, comprised of the most recent iteration of the plane, spans 26 operators in 22 nations with 20 plus air worthiness certifications and nearly 3 million flight hours logged across the global fleet of more than 540 C-130Js.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the storied aircraft’s first flight. The Georgia General Assembly recognized the milestone, designating 2024 the “Year of the Super Hercules.”
“The Lockheed Martin team is honored to deliver this milestone Super Hercules to the U.S. Marine Corps, where it will be part of the largest KC-130J fleet in the world and provide true force amplification across the globe,” said Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Air Mobility & Maritime Missions line of business. “Not only does this Hercules represent the 2,700th C-130 delivered, but it also reflects the inherent mission and performance adaptability that fuels the C-130’s ongoing relevance.”
The KC-130J is the global standard for tactical tankers, according to Lockheed, refueling a majority of rotary wing aircraft in operation today and multiple fixed-wing aircraft including the Lockheed Martin F-35B/C Lightning II fighter aircraft. The KC-130J, with its tactical design, has the ability to fly at the slow speeds and low altitudes that are ideal when refueling helicopters, the company added.
“Always evolving, continually innovating and ready for what’s next, the Super Hercules leads the charge by setting standards and shaping the future of tactical airlift missions — including humanitarian operations around the world,” Lockheed said in the announcement of the 2,700th airlifter delivered.
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