Lockheed Martin was awarded the next C-130J Super Hercules production contract for Air Force and Navy deliveries, the Pentagon announced. The company will build a total of a 17 aircraft under the $969 million contract modification by April 2020, according to the Pentagon’s Nov. 10 major contracts announcement. Production includes six stretched C-130J-30s, nine MC-130J special operations airframes, one HC-130J search and rescue aircraft, and a single KC-130J tanker for the Marine Corps. Last month, the company announced a tentative five-year, cost-saving production agreement for 83 Super Hercs for the Air Force, Department of the Navy, and Coast Guard, Reuters reported. “We have reached a verbal agreement on the C-130J multiyear II contract,” company spokesman Joe LaMarca said. France requested the purchase of four C-130Js to become the aircraft’s 17th international customer, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced on Nov. 10. The request includes two C-130Js to “provide critical transport, airdrop, and resupply,” as well as two KC-130J tankers to “provide crucial air refueling capability to France’s fighter aircraft, light transport aircraft, and helicopters,” according to the announcement. France currently operates a handful of C-130Hs, several of which may be converted for special operations, Jane’s reported.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.