RAAF Completes Block 8.1 Upgrades for C-130J Hercules Fleet

The Royal Australian Air Force has completed upgrades to its fleet of 12 C-130J Hercules aircraft to Block 8.1 configuration. The first aircraft was upgraded in the US by Lockheed Martin, while the other 11 underwent modifications at RAAF Base Richmond by Airbus Australia Pacific.

Upgrades include enhanced communications, navigation systems, and training equipment. The updated aircraft, which entered service in 1999, can carry around 120 passengers or 20 tonnes of cargo. In 2023, Australia approved the acquisition of 20 new C-130J aircraft, with deliveries expected to begin in late 2027. The C-130J is used by 23 nations and has accumulated over three million flight hours.