Page 16 - ADT MAY-JUNE 2022 Online Magazine

disaster relief. Apart from the C-130J Super
Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III, the service
also has over 100 AN-32s, which are currently
being upgraded with new advanced avionics,
navigation, and communication equipment. The
upgrades are scheduled to be completed by
2024-25. [ AIR SYSTEMS ]

Even as South Korea works to develop its own
transport aircraft, the Republic of Korea Air
Force (RoKAF) is looking to acquire a fleet
of heavy cargo haulers by 2026. In March
this year, the Defense Acquisition Program
Administration (DAPA) announced that about
US$581.5 million would be spent on the ‘Large
transporter secondary project’ with the aim of
acquiring the aircraft over the next four years.
The competition for the deal is likely between
the Airbus A400M Atlas and the Lockheed-
Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules.

In April last year, Poland placed an order for
five new C-130 Hercules multi-purpose trans-
port aircraft. The agreement includes aircraft
regeneration and retrofits. The Polish Air Force
had received five refurbished C-130E Hercules
military transport planes in 2012; the current
purchase is based on the Excess Defense
Articles programme that allows the sale of
military equipment, which are surplus to the
needs of the U.S. armed forces, at a reduced
price to foreign countries. The C-130 Hercules,
range of the rotorcraft through aerial refueling. AVIC also builds the which features a glass cockpit, digital avionics,
Y-20, which is the largest military aircraft currently in production. In as well as a new propulsion system with a six-
July last year, the country highlighted the capabilities of the Z-8L bladed propeller, is operational in more than
large military transport helicopter, which has a wider body than any 70 countries.
other domestically developed rotorcraft in the country.
The French Armed Forces (FAF), which already
operates 19 H225M Caracals, announced in
Fleet Expansion April 2021 that it will add eight more helicop-
In September last year, India cleared the acquisition of 56 C-295MW ters of the type for the French Air Force, with
medium transport aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space, in a ‘Buy deliveries scheduled to be completed by 2025.
& Make’ deal worth US$2.5-3 billion. The C-295, which requires The FAF also intends to acquire 15 H225s, the
just 700 metres of runway to lift off and climbs rapidly to mis- civilian version of the Caracal, to replace 12
sion altitude, is powered by Pratt & Whitney PW-127 engines. The Puma and three Super Puma VIP helicopters.
multi-mission aircraft is capable of transporting 71 persons, lifting In July last year, the Australian Army took deliv-
7.25 tonnes of cargo or monitoring the sea for 11 hours non-stop. ery of the first two of four new Boeing CH-47F
While 16 aircraft will be delivered in flyaway condition from Spain Chinook transport helicopters, bringing the
within 48 months of the contract, the remaining 40 will be built in fleet size to 12. Two more helicopters of the
India by the Tata Group within 10 years of signing the contract. type will be delivered this year.
According to the terms of the contract, an MRO facility for the
C-295MW aircraft will also be set up in India before aircraft deliv- Singapore is one of the countries that are
eries are completed. investing significantly in upgrading their military
transport rotorcraft fleet. As part of its plan to
The Indian Air Force (IAF), which is saddled with the ageing Avro replace its fleet of AS332 Super Pumas, the
HS-748, which has been part of the fleet since the 1960s, and Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) took
Russian IL-76s, has been eyeing the acquisition of new medium delivery of the first H-225M medium-lift trans-
transport aircraft (5-10-tonne lift capacity) for tactical use and for port helicopter in March 2021. Even as many

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