Royal Brunei Air Force Get C-130J Super Hercules



RABIATUL KAMIT
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Thursday, July 16, 2015

THE Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) is slated to take delivery of its C-130J Super Hercules in 2018.

The addition of the American-made transport aircraft hopes to further boost the capability of the RBAirF.

Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Hj Wardi Hj Abdul Latip, commander of the RBAirF, said they were currently in the process of acquiring the military transport aircraft from aerospace Lockheed Martin with a delivery date scheduled between 2018 and 2019.

He added the C-130J Super Hercules will enable the RBAirF to significantly increase its contribution to regional humanitarian aid operations.

Used primarily by the United States military and Royal Air Force of the British Armed Forces, the C-130J is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft with new engines, flight deck and other systems developed from the C-130 Hercules.

Variants of the C-130 Hercules are also in service today with the armed forces of Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Korea.

The purchase of the much-acclaimed aircraft was part of the RBAirF’s capability modernisation plan, which also included a fleet of 12 Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopters that were recently inducted into service.

In 2014, the US State Department confirmed the approved sale of a C-130J Super Hercules and six Rolls Royce AE2100D3 turbo-propeller engines to the Brunei Government.

According to the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) last October, the sultanate requested clearance from US authorities to purchase the aircraft along with equipment, spare parts and logistical support for a total of US$343 million.

DSCA said the proposed sale will contribute to foreign policy and national security of the US by helping to strengthen US-Brunei relations.

“The aircraft will enable Brunei to provide aid and assistance in greater capacities to regional allies and partners in need,” said the DSCA.

“Brunei should have no difficulty absorbing this aircraft into their inventory,” added the agency.”

A total of 300 units have been ordered by 15 countries, including Brunei, of which 250 aircraft have been delivered as of February 2012.

Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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