Lockheed Martin KC-130J Super Hercules
Lockheed Martin · United States · first flew 1996 · transport aircraft
The KC-130J is the tanker and transport version of the C-130J Super Hercules, used mainly by the United States Marine Corps.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 29.79 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two wing-mounted hose and drogue refuelling pods, one under each outer wing
- Six-blade composite scimitar propellers like other C-130Js
- Extra external fuel tanks under the wings, with a target sight sensor under the left tank on Harvest HAWK aircraft
The two wing refuelling pods are the clue; the airframe otherwise matches the standard-length C-130J.
Specifications
- The Lockheed Martin KC-130J Super Hercules has a length of 29.79 m (98 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 40.41 m (133 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 670 km/h (416 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It is based on the C-130J and replaced the older KC-130F, KC-130R and KC-130T tankers. It entered Marine service in April 2004. The first flight year is the C-130J type year.
Variants
The Harvest HAWK kit can turn the KC-130J into an overwatch aircraft carrying Hellfire and Griffin missiles. The HC-130J and MC-130J are derived from the KC-130J baseline.
Where you'll see it
It also serves in Canada, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Italy and France, among others. Each wing pod can transfer up to 300 gallons a minute.
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