US Air Force Orders 28 More C-130 Hercules Aircraft - Lockheed Martin

The US Air Force has ordered an additional 28 C-130 Hercules military air transport airplanes to be built in fiscal years 2016 and 2017, defense contractor Lockheed Martin announced in a press release.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The aircraft will be constructed in Marietta, Georgia, and is expected to be complete and work on the contract will be completed by April 30,2017, the release said.

“Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Georgia, has been awarded a $260,078,333 modification… [to its existing] contract… for… 28 fiscal 2016C-130J aircraft,” the release, issued on Monday, stated.

In this Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015 photo, Afghan National Army soldiers line up to get into a C-130 Hercules, at Kandahar Air Base, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

© AP Photo / Massoud Hossaini

The Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft that can take off and land carrying heavy payloads on unprepared runways. The aircraft is also used for airborne assaults, aerial refueling and in other roles as well.

The press release said the contract was awarded with long-lead efforts.

Contracting for long-lead items using congressionally appropriated advance procurement funds is a special contracting method used to protect planned production schedules for major system acquisitions, the US Air Force stated on its website.