Advertisement

Norwegian C-130H by
Torbjorn Kjosvold
(click to view larger)

Back in February 2007, the Norwegian Forsvarsnett said:

“The Armed Forces have six C-130H Hercules transport aircrafts today [DID: 335 skv, out of Oslo-Gardermoen]. These were bought in 1969 and are outdated. Recent updates have made them able to be operational until 2012-15, but it is now known that the planes need further work done to them still. Therefore the Norwegian government has started investigating the possibility of either renting or buying up to four new planes of the type Hercules C-130J.”

Faced with the prospect of further C-130H refurbishment work on one hand, and entreaties by the A400M consortium on the other, Norway needed to decide what to do. They did, and the decision promptly came under political attack – but a deal is done now for 4 C-130J variants, and the first aircraft has been delivered…

The Platform: C-130J-30

C-130J vs. C-130J-30
via CASR
(click to view full)

The Norwegians appear to have decided that minimizing the additional C-130H costs required new aircraft as soon as possible. Hence the proposed purchase of stretched C-130J-30 aircraft with extra length and additional power in adverse conditions, in order to replace their C-130H fleet as quickly as possible. The total cost, if all options are exercised, could be $520 million for the fully outfitted aircraft and contracted support.

This US Air Force fact sheet offers a number of comparative figures involving the C-130J-30 vs. C-130H and C-130J aircraft. With respect to modernizations from the C-130H fleet, it notes that:

“C-130J/J-30 major system improvements include: advanced two-pilot flight station with fully integrated digital avionics; color multifunctional liquid crystal displays and head-up displays; state-of-the-art navigation systems with dual inertial navigation system and global positioning system; fully integrated defensive systems; low-power color [weather] radar; digital moving map display; new turboprop engines with six-bladed, all-composite propellers; digital auto pilot; improved fuel, environmental and ice-protection systems; and an enhanced cargo-handling system.”

The stretched C-130J-30 adds 15 feet of fuselage length over its C-130J counterpart, most of which is placed forward of the wing as the plane stretches from 97’9” (29.3 m) to 112’9” (34.69 m). The extra cargo space allows it to add adds 2 standard pallets (to 8), 23 litters (to 97), 8 CDS bundles (to 24), 36 combat troops (to 128), or 28 paratroopers (to 92) over C-130H/J models, and the aircraft’s maximum cargo weight increases by 9,000 pounds (to 164,000 pounds/ 74,393 kg), while maximum allowable cargo payload rises by a ton (to 44,000 pounds/ 19,958 kg).

In practice, maximum normal payload is 2,000 pounds higher than the C-130J, but 500 pounds lower than the C-130H’s 36,500 pounds. Even so, the stretched C-130J-30 shares the C-130J’s ability to use much more of its theoretical cargo capacity in hot or high altitude environments than previous C-130 versions; US experience in places like Afghanistan and Iraq indicates that as many as 3 C-130H models may be required to do the job of 1 C-130J in these “hot and high” conditions.

In exchange, the stretched C-130J-30 suffers a speed drop of 7 mph (410 mph at 22,000 feet) vs. the C-130J, a 2,000 foot lower ceiling (26,000 feet with full payload), and maximum range at full payload that falls by 115 miles to 1,956 miles. It does outshine the smaller C-130J when carrying only 35,000 pounds of cargo, however: its 2,417 miles is a 576 mile increase over the C-130J, and a 921 mile increase over the C-130H.

Note that except for maximum normal payload, all of the C-130J’s figures remain significantly better than Norway’s current C-130H fleet, with statistics of 366 mph at 22,000 feet, a 23,000 foot ceiling, and range at maximum normal payload of 1,208 miles.

Contracts and Key Events

Norwegian C-130J-30
(click to view full)

Aug 24/09: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. in Marietta, GA receives a $30.2 million modified contract to purchase the quick engine change assemblies for American C/KC/BC/HC/MC-130J aircraft, and Foreign Military Sale aircraft for Norway and India.

“At this time $31,972,726 has been obligated.” The US Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH manages this contract (FA8625-06-C-6456).

Feb 26/09: Rolls-Royce announces a $23 million MissionCare support services and spares contract for AE 2100D3 engines. The engines are installed on the Royal Norwegian Air Force’s (RNoAF) C-130Js.

Thie contract is modeled after the USAF’s Power By The Hour contract, providing a comprehensivesupport package to the RNoAF on a per-engine flight-hour basis. The contract covers on-site technical support, maintenance support, training, provision of spare parts, supply replenishment with the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for the engine, and supply of an R391 Dowty propeller. Forecast International.

Nov 12/08: The first C-130J is turned over to the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) in a ceremony at the Lockheed-Martin plant in Marietta, GA. The USAF release sets the final contract amount at $516 million for all 4 aircraft, additional equipment, training, and initial spares. The ability to pay in converted Euros takes some of the sting out, of course.

May 27/08: The first of four C-130J-30s for Norway completes production and painting at the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta, GA. Deliveries to Norway will include one aircraft in 2008, one in 2009 and two in 2010. Lockheed Martin release.

Nov 7/07: Lockheed Martin says that it has received a $304 million preliminary contract to deliver 4 C-130J tactical transport aircraft to the government of Norway. The agreement provides half of the contract funds immediately, which allows Lockheed Martin to begin acquiring production materials. A final contract for the Norwegian aircraft is expected to be signed early in 2008, at which point any remaining funds will be paid per the agreed schedule.

Deliveries to Norway will reportedly include 1 aircraft in 2008, 1 in 2009 (both of which were intended for the USAF before the production slots were transferred) and 2 in 2010. CNNN Money | Reuters

July 18/07: A USAF release discusses the expedited back-end processes that helped Norway’s C-130J request clear regulatory hurdles in less than half of the normal 180 day turnaround time. “Agency helps expedite C-130 sale to Norway” involves the Air Force Security Assistance Center and other Air Force Materiel Command Foreign Military Sales organizations, and explains how the need to have a firm option to table in Norway’s Parliament and bring new aircraft into service quickly for use on missions abroad motivated extra effort:

“The Defense Department standard for processing a request of this nature, including navigating the inherent legal hurdles, arranging production schedules, set prices, etc., is 180 days. With the help and support of members of the Aeronautical System Center’s 516th Aeronautical Systems Group and the staff of the deputy undersecretary of the Air Force for International Affairs, AFSAC officials processed Norway’s request in less than half that time.”

June 26/07: Lockheed Martin announces that the governments of Norway and the United States have signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) for the sale of 4 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft to Norway. Under separate agreements, Lockheed Martin will create an industrial cooperation program that fully meets Norwegian requirements for the C-130J procurement.

May 26/07: The Norway Post reports that the government’s declared intention to push the C-130J purchase through on an urgent requirements basis without an open bidding round has sparked a political backlash.

The Conservatives and the right wing Progress Party have a majority in the Parliament’s Defence Committee, and want enough time to consider the purchase. Committee chair Jan Petersen (Conservative) has called Defence Minister Anne-Grete Strom-Erichsen to a thorough committee hearing. The government is also facing strong opposition from coalition partners the Socialist Left (SV), who wants a bidding round first; and the Agrarian Party (SP) which touts the idea of upgrading Norway’s 40-year old planes instead.

The Defence Minister counters by pointing out that the 40-year-old Hercules transport planes would not meet the safety standards needed for missions abroad like Afghanistan or other UN missions. The only manufacturer who is able to supply new aircraft at such short notice, she says, is Lockheed Martin. Post report, via Defence Aerospace.

April 18/07: The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency notifies Congress [PDF format] of Norway’s request for 4 stretched C-130J-30 aircraft, as well as associated equipment and services. It adds that:

“Norway intends to use the C-130J aircraft for intra-theater support for its troops involved in worldwide operations. Additionally, the aircraft will be used for humanitarian relief operations in various locations to include the Sudan, the Middle East, and Afghanistan.”

Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, TX will supply the aircraft, and will be responsible for procuring and integrating the defensive systems. olls-Royce Corporation in Indianapolis, IN will supply the engines. The total contract values, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $520 million. The sale request includes:

• 4 Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 stretched Hercules United States Air Force (USAF) baseline aircraft and equipment
• 16 Rolls Royce AE 2100D3 turboprop engines
• 2 Rolls Royce AE 2100D3 spare engines
• 4 AAR-47 Missile Warning Systems (Alliant)
• 1 spare AAR-47 Missile Warning System
• 4 AN/ALR-56M Advanced Radar Warning Receivers (BAE, also used on USAF C-130Js)
• 1 spare AN/ALR-56M Advanced Radar Warning Receiver
• 4 AN/ALE-47 Counter-Measures Dispensing Systems (BAE, produces those “angel wings” smoke profiles)
• 1 spare AN/ALE-47 Counter-Measures Dispensing System
• 2 spare AN/ARC-210 Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems (SINCGARS)
• 2 spare AN/AAR-222 SINCGARS and Key Gen (KV-10) cryptographic Systems
• 10 Advanced Adaptive Anti-jam Antenna Systems

C-130H in hangar
(click to view larger)

The stipulation of US baseline is potentially significant; there is also a Block 6.1 international configuration, which was agreed upon as the joint upgrade version for most of the non-US countries currently flying C-130Js (Australia, Britain, Denmark, Italy). Then again, the Norwegian request does specify “configuration updates” as an item.

The Norwegian request also include spare and repair parts, non-Major Defense Equipment Communications Security equipment and radios, integration studies, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, technical services, personnel training and training equipment, foreign liaison office support, Field Service Representatives, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics personnel services, and other related elements of logistics support.

Additional Readings

• US Air Force – Fact Sheet: C-130 HERCULES

• Forecast International (March 1/07) – Facing Tighter Budgets, Nordic Nations Consider Greater Cooperation

• Flight International (Dec 12/06) – Nordic Special: Buying Power. “Two of the Nordic states are weighing their options for new fighters, while all four are seeking to access strategic airlift. What’s on their shopping list?”