Lockheed celebrates India's Super Hercules plane purchase

Executives at Lockheed Martin Marietta on Thursday held a ceremonial sendoff of the first C-130J Super Hercules airplane to the Indian air force. Lee Rhyant, executive vice president and general manager of the Marietta plant, said this plane was India's first purchase of a major U.S.-made military plane in almost four decades.
India has purchased six of the cargo planes through a foreign military sale, meaning the U.S. government acted as a middleman. Besides the planes, the $1.2 billion contract includes training of aircrew and maintenance technicians, spares, ground support and test equipment, servicing carts, forklifts, loading vehicles, cargo pallets and a three-year support system during which a team of technical specialists will be based in India.
Also included in the package is India-unique operational equipment designed to increase Special Operations capabilities. The first two C-130Js will be flown to India early next year, with the remaining four deliveries scheduled for later in 2011. India's new airlift fleet will be based at Hindon Air Force Station, near New Delhi.
The plane has an Infrared Detection Set and can perform precision low-level flying, airdrops and landing in blackout conditions.
"Today begins a new glorious, enduring partnership with India, as the fourth largest air force in the world proudly joins the worldwide C-130 family," Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin's vice president for C-130 Programs, said during the midday ceremony on Thursday.
17/12/10 Cherokee Tribune

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Categories: Foreign Dec 2010, New Dec 2010