The U.S. Air Force has given the CC-130J, the extended fuselage version of the Lockheed Martin C-130J airlifter, high marks for austere field takeoff and landing operations. The recently completed trials, held in Yuma, Ariz., were the latest in a series of CC-130J developmental military utility tests before U.S. Air Force-led operational testing and evaluation begins in 2003.

The CC-130J is manufactured by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., a business area of Lockheed Martin Corp. .

"The CC-130J's ability to take off and land on very short austere runways is a unique capability," said Ross Reynolds, C-130J program vice president. "The Super Hercules, with its greatly increased range and speed, is going to revolutionize theater transport operations both strategically and tactically. The CC-130J will also be able to deploy new systems, such as the Army's Stryker, over greater distances into areas unreachable by other aircraft."

The CC-130J trials included the first dirt landing by a U.S. Air Force crew. The shorter C-130J completed the austere field trials three years ago.

The Yuma trials were conducted at Tyson Airfield, a dirt landing strip at the military's Yuma Proving Grounds that was selected for its environmental representation of possible war zone landing conditions. The crew landed the aircraft at a weight of 135,000 pounds in less than 2,000 feet. At the completion of the dirt landing trials, U.S. Air Force crews praised the aircraft's handling qualities and performance when operating from rough fields, a mode of operation expected to be commonplace in future C-130J operations.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is a leader in the design, development, systems integration, production and support of advanced military aircraft and related technologies. Its customers include the military services of the United States and allied countries throughout the world. Products include the F-16, F/A-22, F-35 JSF, F-117, T-50, C-5, C-130, C-130J, P-3, S-3 and U-2.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. is a unit of Lockheed Martin Corp., headquartered in Bethesda, Md. Lockheed Martin is a global enterprise principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. Employing about 125,000 people worldwide, Lockheed Martin had 2001 sales of $24 billion.

For more information on Lockheed Martin Corp., visit: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/

For more information on Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., visit: http://www.lmaeronautics.com/

MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here
http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X34443970

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company