C-130J Hercules
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The privately-developed C-130J Hercules has been a controversial aircraft for some time now, with a history of concerns about its cost and performance and a budgetary near-death experience. While the Herc’s 20-ton capacity is still the key limiting factor in US land forces’ survivability and air-portability tradeoffs, the C-130J has recently demonstrated significant advantages over earlier models by carrying vastly higher cargo limits in the “hot and high” conditions of Iraq and Afghanistan. Competition from the higher-capacity Airbus A400M is expected to be fierce after the new plane debuts in 2009, and its impending arrival has already canceled at least one C-130 sale. Nevertheless, a multi-year US C-130J procurement has now begun, adding to the aircraft pool and reinforcing its growing international customer base (Australia, Britain, Denmark, Italy, Kuwait).

Along with the C-130J’s integration into US forces for the full spectrum of combat and non combat roles (WC-130J model hurricane-hunters, KC-103J aerial refuellers, and EC-130J broadcaster variants are also flying) come the inevitable maintenance and sustainment requirements. The Headquarters Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base, GA recently issued $236.6 million in contracts along these lines.

AE2100s on WC-130J
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Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. in Marietta, GA received a $164 million firm-fixed-price, fixed-price award-fee, cost-plus fixed-fee, time and materials, and cost-reimbursement contract. This requirement covers sustaining services including logistics support, program management support, engineering services, spares and technical data in support of systems unique to the C-130J (which includes a significant percentage of the plane). This work will be completed by two years of sustainment service performance. Solicitations began August 2005 and negotiations were complete in January 2006 (FA8504-06-D-0001)

Rolls-Royce Corp. in Indianapolis, IN received a $72.6 million firm-fixed-price contract. This requirement covers sustaining services including logistics support, program management support, engineering services, spares and technical data in support of the C-130J propulsion system, which includes the AE 2100-D3 engine and its six-bladed R-391 propeller system (FA8504-06-C-0004).