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Air Force's Latest C-130 Procurement Plan: Buy 10 J-Models + Upgrade 8 H-Models

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Taiwan's air force is planning to update its C-130 transport aircraft fleet with a mixed strategy.
  • The plan involves purchasing 10 new C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and upgrading 8 of the existing C-130H models.
  • The procurement aims to enhance Taiwan's air transport capabilities and operational readiness.

Taiwan's air force is moving forward with a plan to modernize its aging C-130 transport aircraft fleet, opting for a hybrid approach that combines new acquisitions with upgrades to existing planes. The latest proposal outlines the purchase of 10 new C-130J Super Hercules aircraft through commercial procurement channels.

The latest plan is to adopt a mixed approach of partial commercial purchase and partial performance improvement.

— Military officialDescribing the new strategy for updating the C-130 fleet.

In addition to the new purchases, the plan includes a significant upgrade for eight of the current C-130H models. These aircraft, chosen for their relatively younger airframes, will undergo performance enhancements managed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) in collaboration with foreign suppliers. This dual strategy aims to balance modernization with cost-effectiveness.

Military officials are hopeful that the proposal will receive support from the Ministry of National Defense and be included in the 2027 fiscal budget. However, the ongoing review of the 2026 budget in the Legislative Yuan, coupled with potential reductions in military procurement allocations, could impact the timeline. The air force is pursuing a commercial contract for the C-130J aircraft, a route expected to expedite delivery compared to the more protracted military sales process.

We hope this plan can be included in the 116th fiscal year's defense budget after gaining support from the Ministry of National Defense.

— Military officialExpressing optimism about the budget allocation for the procurement.

Taiwan originally acquired 20 C-130H transport aircraft and one modified C-130HE electronic warfare variant starting in 1984. One aircraft was lost in a crash in 1997, leaving 20 C-130H models currently in service. A previous "Taishan No. 3" plan aimed to upgrade 19 C-130H and one C-130HE by 2030, focusing on cockpit integration, maritime search capabilities, and simulator enhancements. However, high quotes from the U.S. had caused hesitation.

The purchase of 10 C-130J transport aircraft will be conducted through commercial channels, not military sales, which will allow commercial contracts to urge manufacturers to deliver on schedule and avoid the lengthy process of military sales that affects delivery progress.

— Military officialExplaining the rationale behind using commercial procurement for new aircraft.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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