Platform profile · India · Special-operations tactical transport aircraft · Indian Air Force
Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules
OngoingA C-130J demonstrated an assault landing and casualty evacuation during Vayushakti-26 at Pokhran on 2026-02-27.
At Exercise Vayushakti-26 on 2026-02-27, the C-130J demonstrated an assault landing and casualty evacuation from an advanced landing ground at Pokhran. Tata Advanced Systems and Lockheed Martin had broken ground in Bengaluru on 2025-12-08 for an Indian C-130J maintenance, repair and overhaul facility planned to receive its first aircraft in early 2027. A month earlier, the Air Chief inaugurated the roughly 13,000-foot Mudh-Nyoma air base in Ladakh by landing a C-130J about 30 km from the Line of Actual Control, Reuters reported. Lockheed Martin describes the IAF fleet as 12 long-fuselage C-130J-30s configured for special operations. The platform matters because it combines austere-strip access, high-altitude performance and special-forces lift with a growing in-country sustainment base.
Updated 27 Feb 2026
Verified figures
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Indian fleet | 12 C-130J-30 aircraft ↗ |
| Variant | C-130J-30 long-fuselage model ↗ |
| Length | 34.37 m (112 ft 9 in) ↗ |
| Wingspan | 40.41 m (132 ft 7 in) ↗ |
| Height | 11.84 m (38 ft 10 in) ↗ |
| Powerplant | Four Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 engines with six-blade R391 composite propellers ↗ |
| Maximum take-off weight | 74,389 kg (164,000 lb) ↗ |
| Maximum allowable payload | 19,958 kg (44,000 lb) ↗ |
| Range with 40,000 lb payload | 4,425 km (2,390 nmi) ↗ |
| Ceiling with 44,500 lb payload | 8,000 m (26,000 ft) ↗ |
| Maximum cruise speed | 356 KTAS (410 mph) at 22,000 ft ↗ |
| Maximum personnel or pallet load | 128 combat troops, 92 paratroopers or 8 pallets ↗ |
Spec sources: news.lockheedmartin.com ↗ · lockheedmartin.com ↗ · lockheedmartin.com ↗
Changelog
Program timeline
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At Vayushakti-26 in Pokhran, a C-130J demonstrated an assault landing and casualty evacuation from an advanced landing ground.
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Tata Advanced Systems and Lockheed Martin broke ground in Bengaluru on a C-130J defence MRO facility, with construction due by end-2026 and first aircraft intake planned for early 2027.
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Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh inaugurated Mudh-Nyoma air station in Ladakh by landing a C-130J at the roughly 13,000-foot base about 30 km from the Line of Actual Control, Reuters reported.
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The Defence Acquisition Council granted Acceptance of Necessity for sustainment of the C-130J and C-17 fleets within proposals valued at about Rs 67,000 crore.
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Exercise Tiger Claw concluded after Indian and US special-forces personnel completed 113 jumps from IAF and USAF C-130J aircraft.
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An-32 and C-130J aircraft ferried relief materials and personnel for the IAF's response to the Wayanad landslide in Kerala.
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The IAF announced the first night landing of a C-130J at the Kargil airstrip in Ladakh while training Garud commandos.
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Lockheed Martin received a USD 328.8 million five-year contract to support India's 12-aircraft C-130J fleet, including scheduled servicing of five aircraft beginning in 2022.
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An IAF C-130J crashed about 116 km west of Gwalior during low-level formation training, killing all five crew members.
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A C-130J landed at Daulat Beg Oldie in Ladakh at 16,614 ft, which the government described as the world's highest landing by an aircraft of its class.
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The Indian Air Force held the induction ceremony for the C-130J-30 Super Hercules at Hindan Air Force Station.
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Lockheed Martin handed over the first of six Indian C-130J-30 aircraft at Marietta, Georgia.
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