Article Posted on : - May 12, 2010

Lockheed Martin's C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Lockheed Martin Photo.

MARIETTA (BNS): Lockheed Martin Tuesday delivered all four C-130Js aircraft to the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) of Norway.

Lockheed Martin received a contract from the US government in November 2007 for the purchase of four C-130J Super Hercules airlifters, plus initial spares and training, for Norway through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.

Lockheed Martin delivered Norway’s first C-130J in November 2008 and the second one in April 2009.

"As the first C-130J FMS order, the Norway contract was an important milestone for sales of the C-130J around the world," said Julie Whitehead, Director, Norway C-130J program for Lockheed Martin, in a company statement.

"Two years ago, Norway joined the ever-growing list of countries that realise the flexibility of the Super Hercules and the benefits it brings to a nation’s overall airlift capability. With today’s acceptance of two more aircraft, the RNoAF is among those countries with the most advanced cargo fleets in the world," she added.

The C-130Js aircraft are capable of generating much greater operational efficiencies than the 1968-vintage C-130Hs that Norway has been operating.

The C-130J can fly farther, faster, with more payload and higher reliability. The new aircraft will enable Norway to fully meet its national airlift mission requirements as well as those missions in support of international organisations such as the U.N. and NATO, the statement said.