Australia Plans to Replace C-130Js with New Aircraft

Australia’s defence ministry has announced plans to replace the Air Force’s fleet of 12 C-130J Hercules aircraft with an expanded fleet of new-build C-130Js under the Project AIR 7404 Phase 1 medium air mobility replacement.

The older C-130Js have been in service with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) since 1999.

The ministry said it approached a number of aircraft manufacturers and received information on all available medium air mobility options. Contenders included Airbus A400M, Embraer C-390, and the Kawasaki C-2 transports.

“Defence has identified that the new C-130J aircraft represents the only option that meets all of Australia’s capability requirements and assures Defence’s medium air mobility capability without introducing substantial cost, schedule and capability risk,” it added. “As a result, new C-130J aircraft will be the only option that Defence will progress for Government approval under Project AIR 7404 Phase 1 in 2023.