Lockheed Martin has secured a contract valued at up to $1.9 billion to maintain and expand training systems supporting the C-130J Super Hercules fleet operated by the United States Armed Forces and international partners. The agreement includes the production, upgrade, sustainment, and operational management of aircrew and maintenance training devices, as well as a range of integrated training support services.
Training operations will be overseen by the Training System Support Center and conducted at multiple military installations across the United States, including Little Rock Air Force Base and Dyess Air Force Base. Additional program activities will be carried out overseas at Ramstein Air Base and Yokota Air Base. The program is expected to continue until February 2039.
The C-130J Super Hercules is a tactical airlift aircraft designed to carry personnel, equipment, and logistical supplies across diverse mission environments. The aircraft features a maximum takeoff weight of 164,000 pounds (74,389 kilograms), an empty weight of around 88,252 pounds (40,030 kilograms), and can carry payloads of up to approximately 46,700 pounds (21,183 kilograms).
With a landing weight of 135,000 pounds (61,235 kilograms), the aircraft typically requires about 3,000 feet (914 meters) of runway for landing operations. When transporting a 40,000-pound payload, it can operate over distances of roughly 2,160 nautical miles (4,000 kilometers).
The C-130J platform has also been adapted into several specialized mission variants. Earlier this year, the United States Coast Guard took delivery of its 18th HC-130J long-range surveillance aircraft, equipped with the Minotaur Mission System and additional radar, sensor, and communications equipment tailored for Coast Guard operations.
