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 Lockheed
Martin’s India CEO Roger Rose told India
Strategic in an interview that the infrastructure
to operate the six aircraft that the Indian Air
Force is buying is nearly complete at the Hindon
air force station near the Indian capital and
that all the aircraft will be “delivered
on time, on schedule and within the budget.”
The first aircraft has already been painted in
IAF colours, and examined by IAF representatives
and pilots in the US at the company’s Marietta
aircraft production facility. Appropriate training
arrangements for Indian pilots, both in the US
and India, were also being implemented in accordance
with the nearly USD one billion deal that included
the six aircraft, spare engines and other parts,
training and maintenance facilities in India.
“We are in fact ahead of schedule in every
respect,” Mr Rose, a former US Navy submariner,
said.
Lockheed Martin was now in discussions with IAF
on the potential sale of six more C 130Js, as
per the options in the agreement, and a couple
of more aircraft, albeit with lower configuration,
for the Border Security force (BSF) and Indian
Coast Guard.
The C 130J is a special operations aircraft to
land and takeoff from a battle zone. It is capable
of operating from rough dirt strips to drop or
pick up men and material from hostile areas. It
is equipped with missile defence systems.
“The flexible design of the Super Hercules
enables it to be configured for many different
missions, allowing for one aircraft to perform
the role of many, including mid-air refueling.
Much of the special mission equipment added to
the Super Hercules is removable, allowing it to
quickly switch roles. Equipped with an infrared
detection set (IDS), the aircraft for the first
time will provide the IAF an ability to conduct
precision low-level flying operations, airdrops
and landings in blackout conditions,” Mr
Rose said.
The aircraft is also good for civilian use in
India’s mountainous north-eastern regions.
As for the first aircraft for the IAF, it is
now entering pre-delivery test flights to check
the aircraft and systems. All the six aircraft
are due to be delivered by 2012.
And from October, the US Air Force (USAF) will
start providing formal conversion training on
its own aircraft to an initial batch of IAF’s
transport pilots. Notably, the deal to buy the
aircraft is the with the US Government under its
Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme and involves
USAF’s participation right from the demonstration
to training and delivery.
 Mr
Rose said that Lockheed Martin was ready to ensure
a high 80 per cent availability of the C 130Js
to the IAF at any given time, and extend maintenance
support for 30 to 40 years. There are long-term
agreements already with the air forces of Australia,
Britain and Canada.
Although the C 130 aircraft first flew in the
1950s, it has been constantly upgraded with newer
designs and there is nothing common between the
current generation and the older aircraft except
perhaps looks to an extent. The C130J model is
also a little bigger and has powerful engines
to suit special operations requirements.
The four-engine turboprop aircraft was initially
designed as a tactical airlifter for short takeoff
and landings from unprepared strips, a role that
it still performs. It can be used to ferry troops
and cargo for airborne assault or to evacuate
the injured from a battle zone. The C 130 is the
only military aircraft to remain in continuous
production, although in some 40 versions, and
in service with about 60 countries.
It first flew on August 1967 and entered service
with USAF in December 1957.
The aircraft has been used as a gunship, for
scientific research, weather reconnaissance including
penetrating high speed tornados, maritime reconnaissance,
aerial firefighting and so on. “We have the
KC130J refueller version which we feel will be
a great asset to IAF. The WC130J is the weather
version which can fly through a cyclone, and can
be used by the weather department.
As for the Indo-US C 130J deal, Mr Rose said
that under the FMS, you get exactly what you pay
for.
The US government also charges an administrative
fee, which is fixed periodically between 2.5 to
5 five per cent of the deal. (The percentage in
this case was not readily available).
Although an FMS deal may not have an offset clause,
in this case Lockheed Martin has a 30 per cent
offset commitment. The company is also committed
to provide periodic upgrades.
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