The U.S. Air Power has introduced a suspension of deliveries of C-130J Tremendous Hercules transport plane, after the incompatibility of a brand new communications improve was found throughout testing. Additional deliveries of any of the plane to shoppers internationally will proceed as soon as the plane is ready to attain security, efficiency, and airworthiness requirements. Whereas manufacturing has not been interrupted, no deliveries are scheduled to any shoppers for the fourth quarter of 2025, and solely two plane are anticipated to be delivered all year long, which is anticipated to trigger important delays to the fleet modernisation plans of shoppers internationally. The Air Nationwide Guard having been allotted a finances to obtain six C-130Js in Fiscal 12 months 2026.
A Lockheed Martin spokesperson said that the agency is finalising new design certification with prospects, and expects to ship 16 to 24 plane in 2026, thereby emphasising that manufacturing traces will proceed working regardless of ongoing technical challenges. The suspension of deliveries was introduced lower than per week after the primary announcement of plans for theRepublic of China Air Power to amass ten C-130Js. The Republic of China Air Power has already cancelled a previous deliberate to improve program its C-130H transports, which have served since 1984, with the improve program beforehand supposed to combine new cockpit interfaces, improve maritime search and rescue capabilities, add simulators, enhance international positioning and reporting methods, and set up to security and collision-avoidance gear. Delays to C-130J deliveries will not be anticipated to pressure a reassessment of the native improve program, as continued manufacturing of the plane will restrict the backlog of orders that varieties. Main delays to U.S. arms provides have nonetheless induced a significant scandal in Taipei, with backlogs having exceeded $21 billion, elevating issues in Taipei relating to how rapidly new plane will be delivered.
The C-130 is presently the heaviest U.S. army transport in manufacturing, with the a lot bigger C-17 and C-5 each being out of manufacturing. The plane is hindered by a a lot smaller carrying capability than the Russian Il-76, and moreso than the Chinese language Y-20 which is the biggest army transport in manufacturing worldwide. Russian plans to collectively produce a a lot bigger transport rivalling the C-5, the An-124, have been derailed following the overthrow of the Ukrainain authorities in 2014, as Ukraine inherited the Soviet Antonov Design Bureau’s manufacturing traces for heavy transports. Neither Russia nor the US are anticipated to have the ability to convey bigger kinds of transport plane into manufacturing for the foreseeable future, probably earlier than the late 2030s, with Russia having struggled to restart manufacturing of theI Il-78 at a suitable value, whereas the US civil and army manufacturing of huge transports have confronted rising points. The C-5 has been out of manufacturing since 1989. That is anticipated to pave the way in which for the Chinese language mainland to cement its place because the chief in heavy transport plane manufacturing.
