Air Mobility Plan, 2008 - The Black Vault

C-130 Roadmap
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C-130 Roadmap
OPR: AMC/A5Q
Weapon System Assessment
The C-130 is the primary combat delivery aircraft for the US military and is operated by AMC, US
Air Forces Europe, Pacific Air Forces, Air National Guard (ANG), Air Force Reserve Command
(AFRC), and Air Education and Training Command (AETC). Special mission variants are operated
by Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) and Air Combat Command (ACC) active duty,
AFRC, and ANG organizations.
The C-130 was first fielded in the 1950s and was
designed to accomplish both long-range and tactical
airlift missions. Today, these aircraft operate in a Joint
environment throughout the world and across the
range of military operations. Employed primarily in
a theater role, the venerable “Herk” provides rapid
transport of personnel and cargo by aerial delivery
to a designated drop zone, or by landing at austere
locations within a theater of operations. A highly
versatile weapon system, C-130 variants routinely
provide combat delivery capability, conduct aeromedical
evacuation missions, penetrate hurricanes, provide combat
communications links, facilitate rescues on land or at sea,
service our remote stations at the North and South Poles, refuel
aircraft, broadcast radio and television
messages, and fight forest fires, as well as
provide for clandestine penetration and
close air support/battlefield interdiction.
In addition, C-130s have the capability to
augment strategic airlift forces as well as
support humanitarian, peacekeeping, and
disaster relief operations when needed.
The C-130 fleet has been upgraded over the last four decades with improved avionics, navigation
systems, engines, and aircraft systems. Equipment was added in the 1970s to permit adverse-weather
formation flight and airdrops; and, more recently, we have added aircraft defensive equipment to
permit operations in a low- to selected medium-threat environment.
The MAF fleet is composed of the older C-130Es, several versions of the more modern C-130Hs,
and the newest C-130Js. While it has been an outstanding performer, upgrades are necessary to meet
known capability shortfalls: C-130s do not meet some communications, navigation, surveillance/
air traffic management (CNS/ATM) and Air Force Navigation Safety (Nav-Safety) Master Plan
requirements. The C-130E/H fleet is nearly 30 years old and has serious reliability, maintainability,
and supportability (RM&S) issues; and some are reaching the end of their service life. Most recently,
numerous C-130E/H models have been grounded or placed under significant flight restrictions due to
exceeding center wing box life expectancy.
As we look at the future operating environment, it seems increasingly more likely that the older
C-130s, without modernization, will be unable to provide the cargo/passenger airlift and special
mission capabilities needed by warfighters. While the C-130J permits the transport of 8 pallets versus
the standard 6 for the remainder of the fleet, the cargo box size will likely be inadequate to transport
the series of manned-vehicle future combat system components for the US Army. Similarly, aircraft
performance at high gross weights will not permit operations from runways in the 1000- to 2,000-
OCT 07