DefenceTalkThe Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Mobility Directorate signed a multiyear contract with Lockheed Martin to procure 78 C-130J Super Hercules with the option to buy up to 83 over the next five years. The agreement is the second multiyear contract for the C-130J and it saves the Defense Department about $680 million and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/new-usaf-c-130j-contract-to-save-dod-millions-67608/

DefenceTalkChina’s large transportation aircraft, Y-20, will finish test flights in 2016 and be delivered in bulk to the PLA before the end of this year, according to CCTV reports. China’s own domestically built military cargo jet, Y-20, will likely be put into service in the army this year, a military expert said in an interview […]https://www.defencetalk.com/chinas-y-20-aircraft-to-finish-test-flights-in-2016-67152/

DefenceTalkA frustrated IAF has asked the defence ministry to take a decision, one way or the other, on its long-pending case for the almost $2 billion acquisition of six Airbus-330 midair refueling aircraft or tankers to boost the strategic reach of its fighters and bombers. Stressing the critical operational necessity for fast induction of the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/indian-air-force-wants-mod-to-make-on-decision-on-mrtt-purchase-66566/

DefenceTalkBAE Systems has been selected by the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to develop a new electronic warfare system for the fleet of C-130J aircraft. The contract, worth more than $20 million, is the first phase of a multi-phase program to upgrade aircraft system survivability and the capability to detect, identify, locate, deny, degrade, disrupt, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/bae-systems-to-develop-electronic-warfare-suite-for-u-s-air-force-c-130j-fleet-66259/

DefenceTalkTINKER AIR FORCE BASE: KC-135R Stratotankers operated by the 507th Air Refueling Wing are scheduled to be the first Air Force Reserve Command tankers to be retrofitted with the new KC-135 Block 45 upgrade at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex here in February 2016. The latest KC-135 upgrade, called Block 45, will completely remodel […]https://www.defencetalk.com/reserve-kc-135s-to-begin-upgrades-in-february-66205/

DefenceTalkRussian Helicopters, part of State Corporation Rostec, has received type certification for the medium multirole Mi-38 transport helicopter designed by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, a Russian Helicopters company. The certification confirms that the helicopter’s standard design complies with Russian and international aviation requirements. In 2016 the Mi-38 will enter serial production and launch on the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russian-helicopters-receives-type-certification-for-mi-38-66202/

DefenceTalkFrench Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian confirmed Friday that Paris will buy four Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transport planes, in a deal that was announced by the United States in November. The purchase, to compensate for a delay in deliveries of the Airbus A400M, was said to be worth $650 million (600 million euros). Le […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-confirms-buying-four-c-130j-us-transport-planes-66221/

DefenceTalkAntonov Company and Тaqnia Aeronautics of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed a Memorandum of Understanding. This document confirms the parties’ intention to deliver 30 multipurpose AN-178 aircraft to Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF). According to Retired Major General Ali Mohammed Al−Ghamdi, President of Тaqnia Aeronautics, the “Signing of this Memorandum is the next significant […]https://www.defencetalk.com/antonov-to-deliver-30-an-178-transport-aircraft-to-saudi-arabia-66142/

DefenceTalkMARIETTA, Ga.: Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) delivered the 2,500th C-130 Hercules from its production line here today. This landmark Hercules is an HC-130J Combat King II personnel recovery aircraft assigned to the U.S. Air Force’s 71st Rescue Squadron, which is part of the 347th Rescue Group. A U.S. Air Force crew ferried the HC-130J to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-martin-delivers-2500th-c-130-hercules-66067/

DefenceTalkWashington: The United States has given the go-ahead for its ally France to buy four Lockheed Martin C-130J military aircraft, a rival to the French-built Airbus A400M. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the contract for two C-130J transports and two KC-130J fuel tankers would come to $650 million (606 million euros). Each plane […]https://www.defencetalk.com/french-military-to-buy-us-c-130-transport-aircraft-65833/