Philippines pushes forward with acquisition of three C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft

 

A C-130J-30 Super Hercules of the US Air Force. Photo c/o Scramble Magazine.

The Philippines’ Department of National Defense (DND) has moved closer to finalize a deal with American defense company Lockheed Martin for the procurement of three new C-130J Super Hercules heavy tactical transport aircraft for the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

Based on a report released by the DND, it has released a Notice of Award (NOA) in favour of Lockheed Martin as of 29 December 2022. 

According to Filipino defense page MaxDefense Philippines, the issuance of a NOA allows the finalization of a contract between the DND and Lockheed Martin, which is expected to be signed once all parties are in agreement and the financial backing for the initial payment is secured. 

So far, the Philippine Government has released the initial funding worth 15% of the project which was already released as early as June 2022.

MaxDefense Philippines also confirmed that the procurement will be through Direct Contract Sales and not through US Foreign Military Sales.

The Philippine Air Force originally requested for 5 new C-130J-30 stretched version of the C-130J Super Hercules, but COVID pandemic expenses has taken a toll on the country’s financial capabilities and funding was only provide for 3 aircraft.

It is expected that the contract will  include an option for the DND to order another 2 units at a later date.

The procurement of new C-130J Super Hercules was included in the modernization efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines under its so-called Horizon 2 phase which covers 2018 to 2022, as part of efforts to recapitalize the PAF’s transport fleet.

Currently the PAF has a fleet of several legacy-model C-130 Hercules including a lone C-130B, a C-130H, and two C-130Ts procured from the US as Excess Defense Articles. A C-130H delivered by the US through EDA in 2021 fatally crashed on the same year, and another C-130H is expected to be delivered by the US within 2023. A third C-130H is said to be negotiated and could be delivered by 2024.

The Philippines will be the second operator of the C-130J Super Hercules in Southeast Asia, after Indonesia, which is expecting to receive its first new build aircraft in 2023.




[1] MaxDefense Philippines
[2] Philippine Defense Resource 
[3] Asia Pacific Defense Journal