PAS 2011: Lockheed Martin prepares ISR kit for C-130J

source airforce-technology.com

June 23, 2011 Tony Osborne, SHEPARD GROUP

Paris - Lockheed Martin is looking at offering a kit which would turn the C-130J into long-endurance ISR platform.

Building on experience gained from nations using the C-130 to meet Open Skies Treaty commitments, the Vigilant Watch system would feature an EO/IR turret system fitted into a modified underwing fuel tank, with system-operators working the systems in the rear cabin of the aircraft.

Jim Grant, VP for business development, air mobility and special operations programmes at Lockheed Martin, said the kit would be in the form of a roll-on roll-off pallet system and that the aircraft could be re-roled for the ISR mission in less than 24 hours.

Grant pointed out the kit could also be used on E, H and J-models of the aircraft.

A similar system has been adopted for use by the US Marine Corps (USMC), which uses an EO/IR turret fitted in a fuel tank on its Harvest Hawk aircraft currently being operated in Afghanistan.

The USMC currently has one aircraft, with the second and third aircraft currently being prepared for operations. The service eventually want to have at least three Harvest Hawks in each of its KC-130J VMGR squadrons.

Grant said that India has expressed interest in the dedicated weather tracking version of the aircraft, the WC-130J, currently solely used by the US Air Force's 53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron based in Mississippi. They would be used by the Indians to track the course of typhoon weather systems in the Indian Ocean, while work was also ongoing to develop a maritime patrol capability for the aircraft.

Other roll-on, roll-off payloads are being developed for the aircraft, including a VIP-capsule designed for use by VIPs and heads of state. The Oman Royal Flight has ordered one C-130J and will make use of the capsule system for Omani royalty.

Lockheed Martin has ramped up production of the C-130J and is now building 36 aircraft per year. There is currently a backlog of 97 aircraft on order including examples for Kuwait, Iraq, Israel and South Korea.

Lockheed Martin has just begun test flying the first C-130J for the Qatar Emiri Air Force.