Posted on 05/21/2010 10:19:21 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Israel has signed a deal to buy an American stretched version of the C-130J transport, modified for special operations (commando) missions. This means the aircraft is equipped with night vision gear, more radios, radar warning equipment and counter-measures for anti-aircraft missiles. India and the U.S. are also buying this special operations model. Two years ago, Israel sought to buy nine of the latest model of the C-130, the C-130J. These would cost about $200 million each, and Israel eventually found they could not afford all of them right now. Israel began using the C-130 in 1971, and most of its current 22 C-130s are older models in need of replacement. C-130s can last a long time, as the Israelis are finding out. Budget problems have caused Israel to delay ordering more new C-130s. This is not a catastrophe. The oldest known C-130 served 44 years and spent 29,500 hours in the air. On average, C-130s last about 25 years, and about 20,000 hours in the air. The C-130 has been in service 51 years. So far, 2,262 have been built, and it is still in production. That is unprecedented. Several other military aircraft remained in service over half a century (the British Canberra , B-52, the Russian Tu-95, AN-2, and the U.S. DC-3). But no other aircraft has remained in production for so long.
(Excerpt) Read more at strategypage.com ...
Exactly
"rosebud" won't like it.
vaudine
Not from this purchase as it takes too many years to get delivery of the equipment.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.