Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules

First flying 68 years ago, the Lockheed Hercules is a four-engine military transport plane that has seen extensive service throughout NATO and other nations around the world. The Hercules is still in production as the C-130J Super Hercules. In addition to transport, operators of the C-130 have found a variety of different uses for the type. This has included being a gunship armed with artillery cannons, search and rescue, scientific research, aerial refuelling, electronic combat and maritime patrol to name but a few. Whilst the C-130J is still in production and is still receiving new orders, the RAF were the launch customer for this new version of the Hercules in 1995 and will be retiring their last example during July 2023.

The German Air Force have acquired a fleet of three stretched C-130J-30 and three KC-130J aerial tanker versions of the Super Hercules which are operated from Evreux air base in France as part of a joint squadron alongside four French C-130Js. The unit is known as the Binational Air Transport C-130J Squadron “Rhein/Rhin” (BATS). The unit provides a tactical transport fleet to the European Air Transport Command (EATC) which is formed by France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Spain and Italy.

In an operator debut, the German Air Force will be providing one of their new C-130J-30 Super Hercules for static display at RIAT25.

Photo Credit: RIAT Photographer