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United States Lockheed Martin
C-130J Super Hercules
Modernized version of the venerable C-130 tactical airlifter with new engines, six-blade propellers and digital avionics. Operated by dozens of nations for troop, cargo and special-mission transport.
In service since 1999 · 25 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
644
km/h
3,334
km range
8,615
m ceiling
💲 ≈ $106,000,000, Approximate flyaway unit cost
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Widely fielded · 25 operators
In service since 1999. Status: active · ~500 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
$265M – $371M
Acquisition is only ~30% of lifecycle cost, operating & support dominate over ~35 yrs. Rough 2.5–3.5× the unit price. How we estimate this →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 644 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station. | 592 km/h |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 3,334 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 8,615 m |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 29.79 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 40.4 m |
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 11.66 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 34,400 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 74,400 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 3 |
| Cargo payload Maximum cargo the transport can carry. Higher means more lift per sortie. | 19,051 kg |
| Troop capacity Number of embarked troops/passengers (IFV, APC, transport). Higher carries more. | 92 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 turboprop |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 4 |
| Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster. | 4,591 hp |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turboprop |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $106,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 500 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 25 |
Specifications compiled from public Lockheed Martin and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
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C-130J Super Hercules vs
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Il-76MD-90A Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules? +
The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules has a maximum speed of 644 km/h.
What is the range of the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules? +
The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules has a maximum range of 3,334 km.
How much does the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules weigh? +
The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules has a combat weight of 74,400 kg.
How many crew does the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules require? +
The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules requires a crew of 3.
What engine does the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules use? +
The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules is powered by the Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 turboprop.
How many countries operate the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules? +
The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules is operated by 25 countries.
How much does the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules cost? +
The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules has an approximate unit cost of 106,000,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
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