On August 30, the U.S. Marine Corps' new KC-130J aerial refueler achieved a major test milestone when its drogue was successfully engaged by a Navy F/A-18 at NAS Patuxent River, MD.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000918/ATM020 )

The first KC-130J is scheduled for delivery to MCAS Cherry Point, N.C. later this month where it will be used as a hands-on training system (HOTS), primarily for the maintainers. The Marines trained at Cherry Point will later support the KC-130J development and operational testing at the Naval Air Warfare Center's Aircraft Division at NAS Patuxent River.

There are three aircraft involved in the KC-130J test program and a number of milestones were achieved over the summer. Some highlights include:

  *  Marine Corps-specific avionics testing is now 90% complete.  Only
     electromagnetic interference, electromagnetic compatibility, avionics
     cooling, and tests of the environmental control system remain to be
     completed.

  *  Tests of the refueling system, tank and fuel line drainage, fuselage
     tank operations, ground refueling surges and fuel tank priming have all
     been completed.

  *  The USMC tanker-peculiar software build is complete, and software
     regression testing for the USMC Block 5.2 mission computer is complete.

The USMC has eight KC-130Js on order, with three more approved in the 2001 Defense Budget. There is an overall requirement for 51 KC-130Js to replace the ageing fleet of KC-130F/Rs, some of which are more than 40 years old.

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin