INDIAN ARMED FORCES CHIEFS ON
OUR RELENTLESS AND FOCUSED PUBLISHING EFFORTS

 
SP Guide Publications puts forth a well compiled articulation of issues, pursuits and accomplishments of the Indian Army, over the years

— General Manoj Pande, Indian Army Chief

 
 
I am confident that SP Guide Publications would continue to inform, inspire and influence.

— Admiral R. Hari Kumar, Indian Navy Chief

My compliments to SP Guide Publications for informative and credible reportage on contemporary aerospace issues over the past six decades.

— Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, Indian Air Force Chief
       
Milestone

Iconic C-130J Super Hercules fleet surpasses 2 Million flight hours globally

IAF among 22 operators across 18 Countries of the air mobility workhorse

October 16, 2019 By Vishal Thapar Photo(s): By IAF
The landing of an IAF C-130J in August 2013 at Daulat Beg Oldi - the world's highest airstrip at an altitude of 16,614 feet located near the Karakoram Pass and close to the Line of Actual Control with China - demonstrated the versatility of this famed airlifter

One of the world's most iconic air mobility platforms, the C-130J Super Hercules has surpassed 2 million flight hours in operations across the world, Lockheed Martin announced on October 16.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is among the 22 operators of the C-130 special missions aircraft across 18 nations. "These (2 Million) hours were logged beginning with the C-130J's first flight on April 5, 1996, through the end of July 2019," Lockheed Martin declared in a statement on the milestone. The C-130J Super Hercules is the current production model of the legendary C-130 Hercules aircraft, which was first flown in the 1950s.

These (2 Million) hours were logged beginning with the C-130J's first flight on April 5, 1996, through the end of July 2019," Lockheed Martin declared in a statement

The milestone was announced by Lockheed Martin's vice-president of Air Mobility & Maritime Missions at the Hercules Operators Conference at Atlanta. "The C-130J has earned a reputation as the world's workhorse and this most recent achievement is a powerful reminder of the Super Hercules' unmatched global reach," McLean said.

"Crews continue to exemplify the C-130J's proven capability and versatility with every mission they fly. The Lockheed Martin team is proud of the work of the Super Herc crews who rely on the C-130J to support vital missions, both home and abroad," he added.

The C-130J Super Hercules is the current production model of the legendary C-130 Hercules aircraft, which was first flown in the 1950s.

The 2 million hours have been logged on this best seller over a variety of missions including combat, transport, aerial refueling, special operations, medevac, humanitarian relief, search and rescue, weather reconnaissance, fire fighting and commercial freight delivery.

India is among the 18 countries flying the military variant of the Super Hercules. The others are the US - where the operators include the US Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard - UK, Australia, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Canada, Qatar, Iraq, Oman, Tunisia, Israel, Kuwait, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, France, and Bahrain.

The U.S. Air Force as the largest operator, with the Super Hercules flown by its Air Mobility Command, Air Combat Command, Air Education and Training Command, Special Operations Command, and Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units.