Lockheed Martin has delivered the eighth C-130J Super Hercules for the 143rd Airlift Wing, the Air National Guard Unit based at Quonset State Airport, Rhode Island. This is the last C-130J currently on order for the Rhode Island Air National Guard. Brig. Gen. Scott Wuesthoff, Vice Commander, Tanker Airlift Control Center, Scott Air Force Base, accepted the new aircraft in Marietta.

"I am absolutely delighted and honored to deliver this superb aircraft to the Total Force mobility fleet. The recapitalization of the C-130 fleet is essential and this represents a great step in the right direction," said General Wuesthoff. "Every J model that's added to the mobility arsenal provides us greater range, speed and flexibility as we support the nation's warfighters."

The Wing has just returned from a 20-month deployment to Iraq where their C-130Js were used as part of a C-130J joint force deployment for high tempo intra-theater operations. During the deployment, four C-130Js conducted 5,444 sorties over 10,750 flight hours, delivered 12,681 tons of cargo and carried 70,350 passengers.

The new C-130J is capable of generating much greater operational efficiencies than the older C-130s by flying further, faster, with more payload and higher reliability. Additionally, the C-130J only requires three crew members for most missions so fewer flight crew members are exposed to potential threats in theater. C-130Js are currently deployed in two combat theaters and are operating at a very high tempo efficiently and reliably. C-130Js are being used daily for troop and equipment re-supply via ground delivery and airdrop, for air-to-air refueling, ground refueling and humanitarian relief. The worldwide fleet of C-130Js has now exceeded 340,000 flight hours.

In the United States, Air Mobility Command, Air Education and Training Command, Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard units fly C-130Js. The Marine Corps operates KC-130J tankers and the Coast Guard flies the HC-130J. International C-130J operators include the Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Italian Air Force and the Royal Danish Air Force.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2006 sales of $39.6 billion.

FCMN Contact: joe.w.stout@lmco.com

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company