Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Norman Browne today showered praise on Lockheed-Martin’s execution of the Indian C-130J Super Hercules contract. With a contract for six more C-130Js in the final stages (through the foreign military sales or FMS route), the IAF chief revealed that the Indian government would be benefitting from a discount of approximately Rs 400 crore in the new contract as a result of savings accured during the execution of the contract for the original six (five delivered, with the sixth to arrive next month). “It is the first time in history that we have received aircraft earlier than the agreed date, and I commend the programme for its execution,” the IAF chief said at his annual press conference today. When I asked him if the six follow-on C-130Js would be of the same configuration as the original six, he said, “There will be some improvements.”
Photo / Lockheed-Martin
Its excellent news!!!! saw other day static display of A/C at Begumpet. An-32,AVRO,Chetak and kiran all were looking virtual junk with the exception of DO-228. Though the AN-32 is our backbone and work horse ,its avionics needs to be much more sophisticated!!!! read that AN-32 is getting upgraded ,but again with Ukrain based avionics!!!!Its high time IAF inducts modern efficient and performing machines into their system.
dil mage more…….
new versions must include attack variant AC-130J gunship.
Six old aircraft of the IAF can be decommissioned when we induct these six.
"It is the first time in history that we have received aircraft earlier than the agreed date," is a major statement. Itself speaks about the American commitment. The C-130J, P8I and C-17, are the most advanced aircraft in their respective categories, and essential to maintain IAF's and IN's technological edge over adversaries. It feels good to have the best in the world, I hope we move forward to having few squadrons of C-130Js in near future.
the next batch of Hercules is going to be based at charbatia (odissa) at cuttack district. i think this decision has been taken by the air force to give an edge towards the relief operation, every year the natural disaster prone state faces.