The IAF's Hercules C-130 military transport planes will receive an upgrade from Elbit Systems, the international defense electronics company has announced. The Hercules transport, which first flew in the Korean War, has been serving in Israel's air force since 1971.
Elbit announced today that it was awarded a contract by the Israel Ministry of Defense, valued at approximately $15 million, to upgrade the IAF's C-130H Hercules transport aircraft. The contract will be performed over a two-year period. Elbit Systems will supply the IAF with additional C-130H capabilities, as a follow-on to a previous contract signed in 2012. The new capabilities will allow the aircraft to meet the stringent international CNS/ATM (Communications Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management) standard and operate in commercial airspace.
Yoram Shmuely, Elbit Systems Aerospace Division's General Manager, commented: “We are proud to supply the IAF with new capabilities to meet demanding international standards. We have witnessed a growing demand for operability of transport aircraft in commercial airspace and trust that further customers will require similar capabilities for their transport fleets.”
At the same time as it is upgrading its existing Hercules fleet, Israel has been receiving new Hercules C-130J models from the US.
The Hercules C-130J has advanced capabilities in comparison to the Hercules C-130 and it can transport a larger number of troops, carry heavier loads and fly longer distances.