Two air forces have already entered Four decades of conflict The Malvinas/Falklands have experienced the opposite situation in recent days. A Royal Air Force (RAF) Completed the operation with turboprops C-130J Hercules At the same time on June 4 Argentine Air Force After two days A C-130HAn older variant of the Lockheed Martin aircraft.
The most famous military transport aircraft in history, the Hercules In service since 1956 and continues to provide valuable service in many countries including Brazil.
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However, some air forces have sought other solutions to carry out tactical transport, search and rescue and aerial refueling missions.
This is the case with the RAF, which has operated the C-130J, the most current version of the Hercules, since 1999. However, in 2021, the United Kingdom decided to withdraw the turboprop from service.
will be your answer A400MFrom Airbus, an aircraft twice as capable as the Hercules and designated the Atlas C.1 in the RAF.
The Royal Air Force completed its last official Hercules mission on 4 June when an aircraft from 47 Squadron flew from Akrotiri in the Mediterranean to Bryce Norton Air Base.
However, the departure of the C-130J should take place on June 17 King’s Birthday Parade Celebrations When three flights take the shortest route in London.
A “new” old plane
In the Southern Hemisphere, the situation was the opposite. With years of budget constraints, the Argentine Air Force acquired the C-130H Hercules, the seventh in the fleet, transferred from the US Air National Guard and has been in service for 34 years.
However, the arrival of the turboprop was cause for celebration, with the country’s Defense Minister George Diana and Chief of General Staff Brigadier General Xavier Isaac in attendance.
With the registration number TC-60 “Pioneros de la Aviación Militar”, the Hercules was considered a “new” aircraft, despite its age – Lockheed began producing it in 1974 as a more powerful version of the C-130E.
Like other examples in service, the C-130H TC-60 will receive a modernization kit before entering service.
Interest in the KC-390 fell by the wayside
The C-130H’s survival in Argentina contrasts with the situation in neighboring Brazil, where the Hercules is based. Its last four planes are slated to be decommissioned.
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) and Embraer developed the jet KC-390 Millennium 19 aircraft have been ordered to replace the older turboprop since 2019, six of which have already been delivered.
Argentina must have been a customer of the C-390 and is a partner in the project. FADEA (formerly FMA/FAMA) manufactures aircraft components such as tail cone, cargo door and landing gear.
In 2010, the Argentine Air Force expressed interest in acquiring six C-390s, but a contract was not signed.
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