The CC-130-J Hercules Merged Thread

[Haletown]

release says 36 months

 

[Haletown]

just released  . .

"
Conservatives sign $1.4-billion cargo plane contract

MURRAY BREWSTER

Canadian Press

January 16, 2008 at 3:54 PM EST

OTTAWA — The air force's long-awaited purchase of the Super-Hercules cargo plane became a reality Wednesday as the Conservative government formally signed a contract with U.S. defence giant Lockheed Martin.

The purchase of 17 C-130J planes is worth $1.4-billion, with delivery of the first aircraft in the winter of 2010.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Public Works Minister Michael Fortier said at a news conference that a maintenance contract is still being negotiated, for completion by 2009.

The Hercules procurement has been mired in controversy almost from the moment it was announced 17 months ago by former defence minister Gordon O'Connor."


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080116.wcargoplanes0116/BNStory/National/home

 

[MarkOttawa]

From the official release;
http://news.gc.ca/web/view/en/index.jsp?articleid=372519

Schedule

A Request for Proposal was issued in August 2007. The purchase contract, valued at $1.4 billion U.S. was awarded on 20 December 2007. The first aircraft is to be delivered within 36 months of contract award. The last aircraft will be delivered within 60 months of contract award.

Lots of pork and politics:

Under the contract, Lockheed Martin Corp. is required to invest in the Canadian economy, dollar for dollar, what the Government of Canada spends in procuring and maintaining the aircraft over the life of the contract.

“We are continuing to make sure Canada’s aerospace and defence industries obtain maximum benefit so they can build and sustain capacity to support these aircraft over the long-term,” Mr. Fortier said. “Under the in-service support portion, the contractor will be required to spend in Canada 75 per cent of the total cost in direct industrial regional benefits – well above the 60-per-cent ratio negotiated by the previous government for purchases of this magnitude.”

Mark
Ottawa

 

[cameron]

just released  . .

"
Conservatives sign $1.4-billion cargo plane contract

MURRAY BREWSTER

Canadian Press

January 16, 2008 at 3:54 PM EST

OTTAWA — The air force's long-awaited purchase of the Super-Hercules cargo plane became a reality Wednesday as the Conservative government formally signed a contract with U.S. defence giant Lockheed Martin.

The purchase of 17 C-130J planes is worth $1.4-billion, with delivery of the first aircraft in the winter of 2010.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Public Works Minister Michael Fortier said at a news conference that a maintenance contract is still being negotiated, for completion by 2009.

The Hercules procurement has been mired in controversy almost from the moment it was announced 17 months ago by former defence minister Gordon O'Connor."


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080116.wcargoplanes0116/BNStory/National/home

Well praise the Lord

P.S. Concerning the maintenance contract, while i'm all for supporting Canadian industry and Canadian workers, the first priority should be getting the best available equipment to our men and women in arms as soon as possible.  Having equipment that allows them to execute their difficult and dangerous tasks as efficiently and safely as possible should be paramount.  Anything else could be taken into consideration after

 

[belka]

It's nice to see that the Air Force is finally modernizing into the 21st century, with the new transports and helicopters coming. I just hope they haven't forgotted about the fighters.  :

 

[karl28]

            Well this is good news I sure hope there are not any delays in getting these badly needed planes to the CF .  Does any one know if the Government has announced the chinook contract yet ?  Also is there  any information on weather or not  they are any closer to naming the Fixed wing SAR replacement or is the CF just going to have to make do with 17  ?

 

[MarkOttawa]

karl28: Chinook:
http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/66492/post-662494.html#msg662494

No contract till the end of 2008; I smell pork problems (from the C-130J contract announcement):
http://news.gc.ca/web/view/en/index.jsp?articleid=372519

Quote
3. Medium- to Heavy-Lift Helicopters (Chinooks)

Procurement process

In July 2006, PWGSC issued an Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) on MERX, the government’s electronic tendering service.

An ACAN signals the government’s intention to award a contract to a specific supplier for a specific requirement. Other suppliers then have an opportunity (at minimum 15 days) to submit a Statement of Capabilities clearly demonstrating how they can meet the mandatory requirements set out by the government.

This method of procurement fosters competition by giving suppliers the opportunity to respond to the government’s requirements before a contract is awarded. It is typically used when the government believes there is only one supplier or product capable of meeting its needs. It is also open and transparent by letting suppliers know the government’s intention well in advance of any contract award.

Schedule

A Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued to Boeing by the spring of 2008. Contract award is expected by the end of 2008. Under the RFP, Boeing will be required to meet all of the high-level mandatory requirements including delivery of first aircraft 36 months after a contract is awarded. The last aircraft will be delivered within 60 months of contract award.

Trade agreements

This requirement was excluded from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the World Trade Organization – Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO – AGP) and the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT).

See this section at the news release; no listing for fixed-wing SAR, so no definite procurement plan has been approved:

Backgrounder
Major Military Procurements

See these two posts at The Torch:

Fixed-wing SAR replacement: "we’re putting proposals in front of the government to that end" (note the "soon" in July)
http://toyoufromfailinghands.blogspot.com/2007/07/fixed-wing-sar-replacement-were-putting.html

Keeping the Buffalos flying
http://toyoufromfailinghands.blogspot.com/2007/10/keeping-buffalos-flying.html

Mark
Ottawa

 

[karl28]

MarkOttawa


Thanks for the links they will give me some  reading to do on my days off  greatly appreciated .

 

[MarkOttawa]

Jercs to be based at Trenton (usual copyright disclaimer):
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=866429&auth=Luke+Hendry

After long decades of service, CFB Trenton's workhorse airplanes are getting exactly what they need: reinforcements.

Federal ministers announced a contract to buy 17 new C-130J Hercules transports for $1.4 billion.

The planes are to begin arriving in the winter of 2010 [emphasis added].

As a navigator, Col. Mike Hood, commander of 8 Wing-CFB Trenton, was among a crew flying one of the base's older Hercules that flew to Ottawa Wednesday.

He compared the effect of the announcement to the recent arrival of the CC-177 Globemasters in Trenton.

"It's a real morale booster," said Hood.

"People want to be part of an organization that has the best equipment [and] great capability. This is just the next step."

Though older Hercules models are flown elsewhere in Canada, Hood said the new J-models will be based in Trenton [emphasis added].

"The C-130J is meant to replace the C-130 doing the tactical airlift role," said Hood.

Tactical airlift - the process of delivering people and cargo with relatively short flights under often difficult situations - is what keeps Trenton's 436 Transport Squadron working constantly.

The Hercs are also flown by Trenton's 426 Transport Training and 424 Transport and Rescue Squadrons, but the bulk of the Canadian tactical airlift flights in Afghanistan and around the world are handled by 436 Squadron.

Hood said crews must now train in the United States to fly the J-model, possibly as early as this summer [emphasis added].

"While it looks like a C-130 on the outside, on the inside it's a very different aircraft than the one we've been flying," Hood said.

"It can fly higher, go longer, and carry more than the one we've been flying."..

Mark
Ottawa

 

[GAP]

Just an update on the C-130J in general

The C-130J: New Hercules & Old Bottlenecks
12-Mar-2008 14:50 EDT
Article Link

The C-130J “Super Hercules” Hercules program has been the focus of a great deal of controversy – and recently, of a full program restructuring. Most American planes rely on the US market as their base, and then seek exports, but the privately-developed C-130J was different. Australia, Britain, Denmark, and Italy were all ahead of the curve, and have been operating the privately-developed C-130J for several years. By the time the plane finally reached “initial operating capability” for the US military late in 2006, these faster-moving foreign customers were already banding together to create a common upgrade set for their serving fleets. A number of variants are currently flying in transport (C-130J), stretched transport (C-130J-30), aerial broadcaster (EC-130J), coast guard patrol (HC-130J), aerial tanker (KC-130J), and even hurricane hunter weather aircraft (WC-130J).

Canada, India and Norway recently moved to join the global C-130J customer base. In America, meanwhile, some momentum is building. C-130J purchases are taking place under both annual budgets and supplemental wartime funding, in order to replace a US tactical transport fleet that’s flying old aircraft and in dire need of major repairs.

Despite early concerns from critics, the C-130J has demonstrated in-theater performance on the front lines that represents a major improvement over its C-130E/H predecessors. The key question is, does it break the key limitations that have hobbled a number of US Army programs? This DID FOCUS Article describes the C-130J, examines that issue, covers global developments for the C-130J program, and makes note of present and emerging competitors. The latest news includes a delivery to the US Coast Guard, and a maintenance contract from the Marines…
More on link

 

[tomahawk6]

Danish C-130J-30 video of a beach landing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOGBuPRxozQ

 

[geo]

Nice Short take off there T6.
Makes a STOL proud   Just goes to show WHY the Herc is so good at what it does.

 

[Dissident]

Pass me the barf bag.

Impressive. I do wonder what was the takeoff weight.

 

[hauger]

Nifty.  They kinda hung it on the props, didn't they.

I wonder what it'd be like to fly in one of those.  Can't wait till Canada starts getting them.

 

[PMedMoe]

Excellent take off!!  Would've loved to have been on it.

Don't show that to the flight crews, who knows what ideas they'll get!! 

 

[geo]

LOL, LOL not the same thing but, I remember years ago when the NORDAIR pilots would turn around at the Frobisher Bay terminal building and take off using the taxiway as their runway.  Betcha the Boeing boys didn't have that in mind when they built the 737

 

[PMedMoe]

I was thinking more along the lines of  "Oh, the plane's broken down.  Why yes, we do just happen to be on a beach...." 

 

[cameron]

HOLY $HIT BATMAN!!!!!!! ;D

 

[Colin Parkinson]

You so don't want to get stuck and have the tide come in!

 

[geo]

You so don't want to get stuck and have the tide come in!

Ohhh the paperwork that that would entail >