Five C-130J-30 Hercules delivered under this Ministry-led project are providing tactical air transport capability for military and wider government responses.
C-130J-30 fleet
In 2017 the Future Air Mobility Capability project was set up to look at the future of the tactical airlift operations provided by the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) and the old C-130(H) Hercules, which had been operating for nearly six decades.
In 2020 the Government announced the decision to buy a fleet of five C-130J-30 Hercules. They had been selected as the preferred platform and were acquired - along with a full mission flight simulator - through the United States' Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.
Deliveries of the new aircraft began in August 2024 with the arrival of NZ7011, three months ahead of schedule. The Ministry delivered the final aircraft to the NZDF four months later in December 2024.
The project team is now focused on delivery of the completed simulator training facility at RNZAF Base Auckland, Whenuapai.
Watch progress
Watch progress
Government approval
Government approval
- In July 2017 the Government approved the FAMC project to identify options for an effective and flexible air transport capability that can support military and all of Government operations.
- In June 2019 Government directed that the first air mobility priority was to replace the C-130H aircraft fleet. The Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Hercules was identified as a mature and proven tactical air mobility. The Secretary of Defence was authorised to undertake a formal process of a FMS Letter of Request for a Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the procurement of Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 tactical aircraft, a simulator and associated services and support; together with further information about reliability, availability and maintenance requirements.
- In June 2020 the Government approved $1.5 billion that will deliver the aircraft, training and support equipment, simulator, infrastructure for the simulator that will be located at RNZAF Base Auckland (Whenuapai), civilian satellite communications, electro-optical/infra-red camera, large aircraft infra-red countermeasures and sustainment.
Specs
Specs
C-130J Specifications
Wing span: 40.41m
Height: 11.85m
Length: 34.4m
Speed: 330kts
Payload: 21 tonnes
Passengers: 128
News
Painted
First C-130J aircraft emerges from paint shop
Simulator
First phase of flight simulator construction
First flight
First test flight over Georgia and Alabama, USA