US aerospace and defence giant Lockheed Martin has handed over the first batch of six state-of-the-art C-130J military transport aircraft to the Indian Air Force, giving a big boost to India's air power.

The new fleet comes under a $1.2-billion US Foreign Military Sale (India's first) agreement with the US signed in late 2008.

"There are few mottos that impart such passion as that of the Indian Air Force, which is 'Touch the Sky With Glory'," said Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin's vice president for C-130 programmes.

"Today begins a new glorious, enduring partnership with India as the fourth largest air force in the world proudly joins the worldwide C-130 family," he said.

The Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules aircraft is the most sophisticated airlifter ever built. The aircraft combines state-of-the-art aerospace technology with a proven, rugged airframe design, to offer the operators additional capability coupled with greater operational efficiency.

The Super Hercules that has been delivered to the IAF is the "stretched" variant of the C-130J. It has a longer fuselage similar to the model Lockheed delivers to the UA Air Force.
With the induction of the aircraft into to the IAF fleet, India joins the growing number of nations with C-130J that includes the US, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Norway and the UK.

The C-130J is capable of carrying 463L pallets, 97 medical litters, 24 CDS bundles, 128 combat troops and 92 paratroops.

It is equipped with an Infrared Detection Set (IDS) that allows it to carry out precision low-level flying, airdrops, and landing in blackout conditions.

The aircraft incorporates self protection systems and other features to ensure aircraft survivability under hostile air defence conditions.

Additionally, the aircraft is equipped with air-to-air receiver refuelling capability for extended range operations.

The aircraft is being provided to India under a package deal which, in addition to six aircraft, includes training of aircrew and maintenance technicians, supply of spares, ground support and test equipment, servicing carts, forklifts, loading vehicles, cargo pallets and a team of technical specialists who would be based in India during a three-year initial support period.

Also included in the package is operational equipment custom build to Indian conditions and designed to enhance Special Operations capabilities.

Further, the C-130J Super Hercules will provide the IAF with modern and effective airlift to support a wide range of national requirements.

The C-130J comes also equipped with a Global Positioning System and other highly reliable, automated navigation and route planning aids.

Indian defence and military attache Brigadier Bhupesh Kumar Jain and air attache Air Commodore J S Walia received the aircraft at a ceremony in Marietta, Georgia.