The United States has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to provide advanced training systems and upgrades to enhance how the Royal Australian Air Force prepares its C-130J aircrews.
The package includes two weapon systems trainers, an upgraded integrated cockpit systems trainer, a loadmaster part-task trainer, and enhancements to virtual simulation and maintenance training platforms. Managed by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base under a foreign military sale framework, deliveries are set to begin in 2029.
The improved devices feature upgraded graphics, motion feedback, and high-fidelity cockpit replication to support Australia’s incoming fleet of 20 C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft ordered in 2023 under a $6.6-billion deal. These aircraft will replace and expand the RAAF’s current fleet of 12 C-130Js, with the first deliveries expected in 2028.
The C-130J can carry up to 46,700 pounds, reach speeds of 410 miles per hour, and operate at altitudes of 28,000 feet. With a range of 2,160 nautical miles carrying a 40,000-pound payload, the aircraft is capable of transporting systems such as the M142 HIMARS, a factor that influenced Australia’s procurement decision.
