C-130J
Nicholas Fiorenza, London - Jane's Defence Weekly
17 January 2018
Senior German generals have described the Armée de
l’Air's (French Air Force's: AdlA's) new C-130J as the first step towards the
establishment of a joint air transport squadron by Germany and France.
Lieutenant General Erhard Bühler, who heads the planning
team for the joint squadron in the German Ministry of Defence (MoD), was quoted
on the ministry's website as saying: "The first aircraft, even if it
carries French insignia, is the starting shot. Only together can we accomplish
the coming tasks of Europe. France and Germany, shoulder to shoulder, that is
our future."
The Inspekteur der Luftwaffe, the chief of the German Air
Force, Lieutenant General Karl Müllner, expressed satisfaction that "the
first step towards building up a new joint unit is being made", adding:
"The C-130J will fill a gap which will emerge with the retirement of the
aging Transall."
Germany and France are setting up a joint air transport
squadron consisting of four French and six German C-130Js based at the French
airbase in Évreux, Normandy, with an initial operational capability in 2021 and
full operational capability in 2024.
The first C-130J-30 transport version was delivered to
France in late December 2017 and handed over to the AdlA's Escadron de
Transport (Transport Squadron) 2/61 ‘Franche-Comté’ at Air Base 123
Orléans-Bricy on 15 January. One more C-130J-30 and two KC-130J aerial
refuelling aircraft will be delivered by the end of 2019.
C-130J deliveries to Germany are planned starting in
2021, when the C-160 Transall is phased out. Three of the German aircraft will
be KC-130J tankers.
A joint Franco-German training centre will be built at
Évreux to train aircrews and maintenance personnel starting in 2021.
Original post: janes.com
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