Lockheed Martin
C-130J-30 Begins Paratroop Testing with the Army's 82nd Airborne
28 August 2001
Lockheed Martin has begun a joint test program with the U.S.
Air Force and the U.S. Army to validate the C-130J-30 for
paratroop airdrop operations. The tests are being conducted by
the Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate at Fort
Bragg N.C. They are being flown out of Pope Air Force Base N.C.,
home of the 43rd Airlift Wing. This latest testing follows
successful completion of airdrop testing with a fleet of three
extended fuselage length, or "stretched," C-130J-30s at the Air
Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB, Calif. These aircraft,
which will be delivered to the Rhode Island Air National Guard
later this year, are the first three C-130J-30s ordered by the
Air Force.
During the next several weeks the aircraft will drop up to 92
paratroops at a time to demonstrate the ability of the C-130J-30
to safely deploy paratroops from both sides of the aircraft. In
addition, rapid ground evacuation of the aircraft with up to 128
troops will be carried out. Deployment of paratroopers at high
altitude from each side door and the ramp of the aircraft was
demonstrated during the Edwards AFB phase of testing.
"This is an intense program with both the Army and the Air
Force to validate the aircraft for the critical airdrop
mission", said Ross Reynolds, Lockheed Martin's C-130J program
vice president. "The C-130 has always been the Army’s preferred
jump platform, and we are looking forward to the Army seeing
just how much more capable the new C-130J-30 is."
The C-130J-30 is central to the modernization that is
underway with the U.S. Army. With the need for rapid, flexible
deployment and sustainment, one of the key acquisition
parameters for new systems is focused on the requirement for
them to fit in a C-130J-30. No other aircraft offers the
combined flexibility of strategic deployment of troops and
armor, and as well as intratheater, austere environment tactical
operations.
The C-130J-30's sophisticated navigation system allows the
aircrew to achieve highly accurate drops in all weather
conditions. The C-130J-30 brings a new level of operational
airdrop capability to both the Air Force as operator and the
Army as end user. Current analyses show a close formation of 33
C-130J-30s will be able to drop 2,800 troops in less than five
minutes.
Once testing is complete, the aircraft will be flown back to
Marietta to be prepared for delivery to the 143rd Airlift Wing,
the Rhode Island ANG unit based at Providence, R.I., in
December.
Although designated a tactical airlifter, the C-130J-30 has
demonstrated strategic capabilities with unrefueled non-stop
flights of more than 4,000 miles. The C-130J-30 is based on the
standard C-130J model, but features a fuselage 180 inches (457.2
centimeters) longer than the standard C-130J model, providing
the greater airlift capability required by many operators.
This version is the first stretched C-130J to be equipped
with the computer-controlled Enhanced Cargo Handling System,
which allows precise airdrop event sequencing and quick
conversion from cargo floor tie-downs to rollers for palletized
cargo.
When compared with the standard model, the J-30 can be used
to carry 128 combat troops instead of 92, and 92 paratroops
instead of 64. It can also carry eight standard 463L pallets
rather than six, 97 medical litters instead of 74, and 24
container delivery system (CDS) bundles instead of 16.
Worldwide, 111 C-130Js and J-30s have been ordered. Current
customers include the Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve
Command, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, Royal Air Force,
Royal Australian Air Force, Italian Air Force, and the Royal
Danish Air Force.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company is a leader in the
design, development, systems integration, production and support
of advanced military aircraft and related technologies. Its
customers include the military services of the United States and
allied countries throughout the world. Products include the
F-16, F-22, F-117, C-5, C-27J, C-130, P-3 and U-2. The company
leads a team competing for the development and production of the
Joint Strike Fighter.
LM Aeronautics is a unit of Lockheed Martin Corp.,
headquartered in Bethesda, Md. Lockheed Martin is a global
enterprise principally engaged in the research, design,
development, manufacture and integration of advanced-technology
systems, products and services. The corporation’s core
businesses are systems integration, space, aeronautics and
technology services.
For information on Lockheed Martin Corporation, visit:
http://www.lockheedmartin.com
For information on Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company,
visit: http://www.lmaeronautics.com
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