India's first Super Hercules plane readies for maiden flight

Washington: The first of India's six C-130J Super Hercules airlifters, considered the world's most advanced transport aircraft, is being prepared for its maiden flight early next month.
The first C-130J that donned Indian Air Force (IAF) colours in June ran its engines for the first time Tuesday, its manufacturer Lockheed Martin said, releasing an image of the plane at its Marietta plant in Georgia.
Purchased from the US in a $1 billion deal, India's six stretched-fuselage C-130J-30s would provide the Indian Army and Indian Air Force "new special operations capabilities using the world's most advanced airlifter", according to Lockheed.
Equipped with India-unique operational equipment, including an infrared detection set (IDS), the aircraft for the first time will provide the IAF an ability to conduct precision low-level flying operations, airdrops and landings in blackout conditions.
24/09/10 Indo-Asian News Service/NDTV.com

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Sep 2010, New Sep 2010