Defence to Upgrade Hercules Aircraft

• The Government has approved funding of $45 M to undertake a range of important upgrades to aircraft systems

(February 25, 2010) -- The Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, today said the Australian Government is ensuring that the Royal Australian Air Force's C‑130J Hercules fleet can continue to meet their full capability requirements by upgrading them via a multinational development partnership upgrade program.

The Government has approved funding of $45 million to undertake a range of important upgrades to aircraft systems. These will address system obsolescence, maintain coalition compatibility and enable these aircraft to comply with global air traffic standards. These upgrades will be introduced through ongoing participation in the C‑130J Joint User Group Global Project Arrangement. This will enable Defence to upgrade the C‑130J as part of a multi‑national Block Upgrade Program with other users including the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Canada and Italy.


"The Block 7.0 Upgrade will enable Australia's fleet of C-130J to meet new global air traffic management requirements and continue to operate in global airspace," said Senator Faulkner.

This approval covers the design, testing and acquisition of modification kits for the C-130J Block 7.0 Upgrade.

"Importantly, there is likely to be significant opportunity for Australian Industry to be involved in the national installation and support of the upgrade. Funding for these elements will be considered by Government following successful testing of the first modification kit on an Australian C-130J. This is an appropriate risk management strategy," said Senator Faulkner.

The C-130J routinely undertakes air logistics support, aero-medical evacuation, search and survivor assistance, troop transport and airdrop operations.

"The C-130J is the workhorse of the Royal Australian Air Force. The C-130J has conducted combat airlift in the Middle East Area of Operations since August 2004 and three aircraft are currently stationed in the Middle East. They are also frequently called on for short-notice operations in the South-East Asian and Pacific regions as well as responding to domestic contingencies such as providing flood relief in North Queensland," said Senator Faulkner.

Source : MoD Australia