Scott Nicholas
Lockheed Martin has unveiled a new variant of the C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft designed to meet international military special operations requirements.
The company said Tuesday it built the C-130J SOF platform to help address demands related to the execution of international special operations forces missions.
Orlando Carvalho, executive vice president of Lockheed’s aeronautics business, said he believes the new C-130J variant can aid a spectrum of military operations as global armed forces face evolving threats.
C-130J SOF is designed to support airdrop resupply, humanitarian relief, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, personnel recovery and psychological operations.
Lockheed incorporated special mission equipment options into the aircraft and noted the company may configure the vehicle to wield a 30mm gun and Hellfire missiles as well as function in aerial refueling and forward area refueling point operations.
