Mission

C/KC-130T: United States Navy/United States Marine Corps -- Multi-role, long-range, land-based tactical aircraft provides logistic support and air-to-air refueling to fleet operating forces.

KC-130J: United States Marine Corps -- Multi-role, medium sized fixed wing tactical aircraft designed to replace the KC-130F/R/T aircraft providing logistic support, air-to-air refueling and close air support to fleet operating forces.

Description

The U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Corps C/KC-130 program consists of three variants of a medium-sized transport aircraft capable of intra-theater and inter-theater airlift operations.

Naval Reserve C/KC-130T aircraft fulfill the Navy Unique Fleet Essential Airlift mission to provide the last logistic mile in support operations to forward deployed Naval Forces.  Navy Test Wing KC-130Ts provide airborne flight test support for test and evaluation programs and Naval Land/Sea Test Range surveillance and clearance missions.  Marine Corps KC-130T aircraft provide tactical aerial re-fueling for fixed-wing, rotary-wing and tilt-rotor aircraft as well as transportation of personnel and cargo. 

The KC-130J Super Hercules supports U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Naval Reserve 21st century expeditionary operations by providing tactical aerial refueling for fixed-wing, rotary-wing and tilt-rotor aircraft and can be configured to provide transport of personnel or cargo.

As a multi-sensor image reconnaissance and close air support platform, KC-130J aircraft equipped with the Harvest HAWK modular roll-on, roll-off weapons system utilize an AN/AAQ-30 target sight system with infrared and electro-optic sensors to employ four Hellfire missiles mounted in place of the left hand air-to-air refueling pylon and standoff precision-guided munitions, such as Griffin and Viper Strike missiles, launched from the cargo compartment.

As a tactical transport, the C/KC-130T/J can carry 92 ground troops or 64 paratroopers and equipment and can also be configured as a medical evacuation platform capable of carrying 74 patients on stretchers and their attendants.

Common missions for Hercules aircraft are to provide tactical transport of troops and cargo, air-to-air refueling, aerial delivery, emergency re-supply into or medical evacuation from unimproved landing zones, emergency evacuation of personnel and key equipment, battlefield illumination, multi-sensor image reconnaissance and close air support.

Specifications

C/KC-130T
Primary Function:
KC-130T: Air-to-air refueling, tactical passenger and cargo airlift
C-130T: Tactical passenger and cargo airlift
Date Deployed: KC-130T: 1983: C-130T: 1991
Propulsion: Four Allison T-56-A-16 engines
Length: 97 feet 9 inches (29.3 meters)
Wingspan: 132 feet 7 inches (39.7 meters)
Height: (Tail height) 38 feet 3 inches (11.4 meters)
Weight: Max. gross, take-off:  155,000 pounds (70,306 kg)
Ceiling: 25,600 feet
Range: C/KC-130T: 3,132 nautical miles
Crew: KC-130T: Five; C-130T: Four
Prime Contractors: Lockheed Martin, Cobham, Rolls Royce Corporation, Collins Aerospace, Dowty

KC-130J
Primary Function: Tactical air-to-air refueling, assault support and cargo airlift
Date Deployed: 2004
Propulsion: Four Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 turboprops
Length: 97 feet 9 inches (29.3 meters)
Wingspan: 132 feet 7 inches (39.7 meters)
Height: (Tail Height) 38 feet 3 inches (11.4 meters)
Weight: Max. gross, take-off: 175,000 pounds (79,380 kg)
Range: 3,548 nautical miles
Crew: Three
Prime Contractors: Lockheed Martin, Cobham, Rolls Royce Corporation, Dowty

Program Status

C-130T
Acquisition Phase: Operations and Support
Inventory: Naval Reserve: 19
Initial Operational Capability Date: 1991
 

KC-130T/KC-130T-30
Acquisition Phase: Operations and Support
Inventory: Naval Reserve: 6, VX-20: 3 VX-30: 3
                  Marine Corps Reserve: 2
Initial Operational Capability Date: 1983

KC-130J
ACAT: ACAT IC program
Acquisition Phase: Production and Deployment (Reserve) / Operations and Support (Active)
Inventory: Marine Corps: 42; Marine Corps Reserve: 13; VX-20: 2
Projected Inventory: KC-130J: 111