Lockheed Martin last week delivered the first of six modified C-130J transports to India during a ceremony at the company’s facility in Marietta, Ga. “Today begins a new glorious, enduring partnership with India as the fourth largest air force in the world proudly joins the worldwide C-130 family,” said Lorraine Martin, Lockheed’s vice president for C-130 programs during the delivery ceremony. India ordered the C-130Js in 2008 as part of a $1.2 billion US foreign military sale. The first two C-130Js will be flown to India early next year, followed by the remaining four aircraft deliveries later in 2011. All six aircraft will call Hindon Air Force Station home. The Indian C-130Js are configured to support special operations forces. They will have survivability features and precision low-level flying capability. They will also carry a fuel receiver for in-flight refueling for extended-range operations. (Lockheed release)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.