Iraq Orders C-130Js
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In August 1990, Iraq’s Air Force had more than 500 aircraft in their inventory. The IqAF was decimated in 1991, after Saddam invaded Kuwait and ended up facing the US military and its allies. What remained was hobbled by extensive, and expensive, no-fly zones, until the war formally concluded in 2003 with a US-led invasion that eliminated Saddam’s regime. Rebuilding the IqAF under the new Iraqi government has been a slow process.
The C-130 Hercules was an early player in Iraq’s rebuilt air force, which remains small and focused on transport and surveillance missions. Positive experiences with the IqAF 23rd Sqn.’s 3 refurbished C-130Es, which fly from Baghdad International Airport, led Iraq to make a formal sale request for new C-130J-30s in July 2008. The latest development completes Iraq’s 6-plane buy…
Contracts and Key Events
The stretched C-130J-30 is 15 feet longer than its C-130J counterpart, with most of the added fuselage length placed forward of the wing. C-130J-30s can carry 33% more pallets of equipment or supplies, 39% more combat troops, 31% more paratroopers, or 44% more aeromedical evacuation litters than previous unstretched Hercules versions like the IqAF’s C-130Es. The stretched C-130J-30 also shares the redesigned C-130J’s ability to use much more of its theoretical cargo capacity in hot or high altitude environments, a feature that will see a great deal of use in Iraq.
The contracts are issued to Lockheed Martin of Marietta, GA, and managed by the 657th AESS at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH.
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Sept 29/09: The Iraqi air force officially begins fully independent C-130E air operations, following a ceremony deactivating the U.S. Air Force’s 321st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, and marking assumption of C-130E operations, maintenance and training by the Iraqi air force’s Squadron 23 at New Al-Muthana Air Base. US DoD.
Aug 11/09: A $140.3 million unfinalized firm-fixed-price contract modification for 2 more Iraqi C-130J-30s, completing the 6-aircraft request. The contract also includes engineering and integration tasks associated with Iraq’s distinctive C-130J configuration. At this time no funds have been obligated (FA8625-06-C-6456/P00098).
April 30/09: A firm-fixed-price contract modification, for an amount not to exceed $292.8 million, to buy 4 C-130J-30 aircraft for the Iraqi government. At this time, $6.9 million has been obligated (FA8625-06-C-6456, P00080).
The initial request was for 6 aircraft. Since the DSCA request went unchallenged, the exports are approved and Iraq’s government has the freedom to buy up to 2 more aircraft at a later date.
July 25/08: The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces [PDF] Iraq’s official request for 6 stretched C-130J-30 aircraft, which will supplement the 3 refurbished C-130E’s that currently form Iraq’s medium transport fleet.
The estimated cost is $1.5 billion, and the prime contractor will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Fort Worth, TX and Rolls-Royce Corporation in Indianapolis, IN. Going forward, up to 10 U.S. Government and 10 contractor representatives will participate in 2-week long annual technical and program management reviews. Lockheed Martin and Rolls Royce aren’t the only contractors for this request, however, which also includes defensive equipment from Alliant Techsystems and BAE Systems. The detailed request includes:
- 6 stretched C-130J-30 aircraft identical to the USAF baseline standard
- 28 Rolls Royce AE 2100D3 engines, (24 installed, 4 spare)
- 8 of ATK’s AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning Systems (6 installed, 2 spare)
- 8 of BAE’s AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispensing Systems (6 installed, 2 spare)
- A stock of spare and repair parts, configuration updates, integration studies, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, technical services, personnel training and training equipment, foreign liaison office support, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics personnel services, construction, and other related elements of logistics support.
Additional Readings
- Defend America.MIL (Feb 1/06) – Iraqi C-130 Aircrew Makes History. The first mission outside of Iraq flown by an all-Iraqi C-130 aircrew, transporting the interior minister and his staff to a summit in Tunisia.
- Defend America.MIL (July 11/05) – Airmen Teach C-130 Operations to Iraqis
- MNSTC-I (Feb 12/05) – Iraqi Pilots Fly Prime Minister for First C-130 Mission [PDF]. The aircraft are second-hand, refurbished C-130Es from the USA.
