Global C-130J Fleet Surpasses 2 Million Flight Hours

Two KC-130J Super Hercules aircrafts assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW), conduct a ceremonial formation flight for the VMGR-352 75th anniversary above Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. The squadron held a battle color ceremony, which consisted of a reading of the unit’s citations and awards, a color guard, performance by the 3rd MAW band and a ceremonial formation flight. U.S. Marine Corps/Lance Cpl. Clare J. McIntire

The global community of C-130J Super Hercules operators recently surpassed 2 million flight hours, Lockheed Martin announced in an Oct. 15 release. These hours were logged beginning with the C-130J’s first flight on April 5, 1996, through the end of July 2019.

Twenty-two operators from 18 nations contributed to this achievement, adding hours through multiple missions including combat, transport, aerial refueling, special operations, medevac, humanitarian relief, search and rescue, weather reconnaissance, firefighting and commercial freight delivery.

“The C-130J has earned a reputation as the world’s workhorse, and this most recent achievement is a powerful reminder of the Super Hercules’ unmatched global reach.”
Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of the Air Mobility & Maritime Missions line of business at Lockheed Martin

Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of the Air Mobility & Maritime Missions line of business at Lockheed Martin, announced the milestone at the Hercules Operators Conference, the annual C-130 operator-industry event held in Atlanta.

“The C-130J has earned a reputation as the world’s workhorse, and this most recent achievement is a powerful reminder of the Super Hercules’ unmatched global reach,” McLean said. “Crews continue to exemplify the C-130J’s proven capability and versatility with every mission they fly. The Lockheed Martin team is proud of the work of the Super Herc crews who rely on the C-130J to support vital missions, both home and abroad.”

Countries with military variant C-130Js contributing to these flight hours include (in order of delivery) the United Kingdom, United States (the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard), Australia, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Canada, India, Qatar, Iraq, Oman, Tunisia, Israel, Kuwait, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, France, and Bahrain. Also contributing is Lockheed Martin Flight Operations, whose crews are the first to fly every C-130J produced.

The U.S. Air Force maintains the largest C-130J fleet, with Super Hercs flown by Air Mobility Command, Air Combat Command, Air Education and Training Command, Special Operations Command, and Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve units. In addition, Defense Contract Management Agency crews support C-130J test flights at Lockheed Martin’s Aeronautics site in Marietta, Georgia, home of C-130 production.

The C-130J Super Hercules is the current production model of the legendary C-130 Hercules aircraft.