Lockheed Martin responds with Sea Hercules for Indian Navy's Requirements

Neil

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2010
Messages
2,818
Likes
3,546
Country flag


US defense and aviation giant Lockheed Martin unveiled the maritime version of its successful C-130 Hercules medium airlifter at the Singapore Air Show in February 2012. Vice President of Business Development, George Standridge, pointed to a tiny inset image in a slide during a presentation made at the show, calling it the 'Sea Herc'.

"You take the well–proven airframe and program that the C-130J brings and you essentially import the capabilities of the P-3 mission systems that's flying internationally and you end up with the Sea Hercules," he said.
Lockheed Martin has responded with the Sea Hercules to the Indian Navy's Request for Information (RFI) for Medium Range Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft, as first reported byStratPost.

Standridge went on, "And the beauty of this type of airplane – it's a four-engine turbo-prop – it means time on station, it means the ability to prosecute targets and potential threats as well as shipping across a broad spectrum of any type of ocean mass. We're spending a lot of time talking with new potential customers now in an effort to be responsive to that market as they look at the continued emphasis on maritime patrol surveillance as well as Anti Submarine Warfare."

StratPost dug a little deeper, asking about the genesis of the new variant and elicited an emailed response from Lockheed Martin about the configuration. The company says it has already built a 'maritime configuration for the C-130 that the US Coast Guard currently operates'.

"We are expanding the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance (MPRA) capability at the request of several international customers to include full Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW). The Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion MPRA operated by the US Navy and twenty domestic and international operators provides the modern mission system and sensors which can be palletized and transferred to the SC-130J Sea Herc. The C-130J operates in many different configurations in addition to its primary role as a combat delivery vehicle. Adding full ASW capability to the C-130J is a logical response to meet an international demand for a long range, long time on station, turbo prop multi-role aircraft," said the company.

The aircraft isn't a mere concept, says the company. "With the exception of some test and development required for the full ASW configuration, the majority of SC-130J capability has been developed and is currently in operation. LM has developed many operational mission configurations for the C-130 based on customer requests. LM has considered the development of full ASW for the C-130J over the last ten years, but recent customer demand has moved this past the concept stage into development and test."



Lockheed Martin says that 'Not counting the systems brought in for Maritime Patrol and ASW and production and after production mods, there is no difference between a SC-130J Sea Herc and C-130J Super Hercules'.



So what does make it different? "The ASW capabilities of the P-3 Orion including torpedoes, forward firing weapons and sonobuoy delivery have been incorporated into the SC-130J in-addition to the mission system and sensors," says the company, also pointing out, "In-addition, the C-130J has a 60,000 flt hour rated center wing box providing the ideal ruggedness required to meet the turbulence often encountered in low altitude operations."

This does not mean the Sea Hercules will necessarily amount to the Orion's systems onboard a Super Hercules. "The capability of the Sea Herc including ISR/ASW systems can be determined by the customer. While we are utilizing the latest P-3 mission system and software as a constant, the customer can tailor the sensors they desire to meet their operational needs," says Lockheed Martin.

But the Sea Hercules will bring the advantage of variable configuration over the P-3 Orion.



The major difference in capability between the two aircraft is the P-3 Orion is a dedicated MPRA. The SC-130J Sea Herc with its palletized mission system can be used as a dedicated MPRA but offers the option of easily removing the palletized mission system providing combat delivery capability.
"The ability to change from one mission configurations to another is not offered in the P-3, not to mention the economies gained in a single TMS airframe," says the company.

Lockheed Martin thinks the four turbo-prop engines of the platform make the aircraft a strong candidate for the Indian Navy. "The Sea Herc is designed to be a scalable MRMR MPRA adaptable to IN requirements. On station time is a critical component in the MPRA mission area and something the Sea Herc excels at when compared to a twin engine alternative. Payload capability, the ability to carry everything you need to execute the mission is another consideration when determining the right MPRA," they say.

With the Indian Air Force (IAF) already inducting C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, Lockheed Martin thinks the Sea Hercules would be a good fit for the Indian Navy, saying, "Once again, staying with a similar TMS which is operated by the IAF may be a consideration offering a potential sustainment economy."


Lockheed Martin responds with Sea Hercules for Indian Navy's Requirements of Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft | idrw.org
 

sesha_maruthi27

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2010
Messages
3,963
Likes
1,803
Country flag
Are we going to get this one? If so it is good, but we can also opt for something which is RUSSIAN also............
 

Neil

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2010
Messages
2,818
Likes
3,546
Country flag
Are we going to get this one? If so it is good, but we can also opt for something which is RUSSIAN also............

i think even P8i was offered....so lets see what does navy want....and i guess they are way better than russian has to offer [i stand corrected]
 

Blackwater

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2012
Messages
21,157
Likes
12,211
what else C-130 naval version can do what P-8i can't???

pls throw ur expert comment
 

Adux

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2009
Messages
4,022
Likes
1,707
Country flag
Sea Herc? What's next, Space Herc? This guys at LM really do have imaginative minds...
I dont know how it compare airframe wise to its competitors, MRMPA

How does it compare to a SAAB or Embrarer?

There is a nothing to be said about a improved P 3 suite, its top notch.

EADS CN-235 : http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/cn235mp/
SAAB 2000 : http://www.saabgroup.com/Air/Airbor...eillance/Maritime_Surveillance/Saab_2000_MPA/
Airbus :http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/a319mpa/


Since these would be the most likely candidates, how would an aircraft like the Hercules perform?
 
Last edited:

SPIEZ

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2011
Messages
3,508
Likes
1,021
Country flag
Why does Indian Navy need a "Medium Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft" when P8I also does the same?

How many of these does IN want?
 

ash2win

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2011
Messages
145
Likes
196
Why does Indian Navy need a "Medium Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft" when P8I also does the same?

How many of these does IN want?
Buddy,this is medium range,P8i is Long range.
This is addition to P8i.
 

Rahul Singh

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2009
Messages
3,652
Likes
5,790
Country flag
For the sake of commonality Navy should choose C-130MPA, that of course if it fulfills the need. Also since it is american speedy delivery is almost guaranteed.
 

pmaitra

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
33,262
Likes
19,593
I am thinking of similarity of spares for the C-130 and C-130 Naval.

Not a bad idea to get those birds.
 

Adux

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2009
Messages
4,022
Likes
1,707
Country flag
SAAB 2000

General characteristics
Crew: 2
Capacity: 50–58 passengers
Payload: 5,900 kg (13,010 lb)
Length: 27.28 m (89 ft 6 in)
Wingspan: 24.76 m (81 ft 3 in)
Height: 7.73 m[4] (25 ft 4 in)
Wing area: 55.7 m² (600 sq ft)
Airfoil: NASA MS(1)013
Aspect ratio: 11:0
Empty weight: 13,800 kg (30,424 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 22,800 kg (50,265 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Allison AE 2100A turboprop, 3,096 kW (4,152 shp) each
Propellers: six blade constant speed Dowty propellers propeller, 1 per engine
Performance
Cruise speed: 685 km/h (370 knots, 424 mph)
Service ceiling: 9,450 m (31,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 11.4 m/s (2,250 ft/min)

CASA C-235
General characteristics
General characteristics
Crew: two, pilot and co-pilot
Capacity: 44 passengers
Payload: 5,950 kg[17] (13,120 lb)
Length: 21.40 m (70 ft 2½ in)
Wingspan: 25.81 m (84 ft 8 in)
Height: 8.18 m (26 ft 10 in)
Wing area: 59.10 m² (636.1 sq st)
Airfoil: NACA 653-218
Aspect ratio: 11.27:1
Empty weight: 9,800 kg (21,605 lb)
Useful load: 48.54 m3 (1715.17 ft3)
Max. takeoff weight: 16,500 kg (36,380 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric CT7-9C3 turboprops, 1,750 shp () each
Performance
Cruise speed: 454 km/h (245 knots,)
Range: 5,055 km (2730 nm)
Service ceiling: 7,620 m (25,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 7.8 m/s (1,780 ft/min)
EADS CASA C-295

General characteristics
Crew: Two
Capacity: 71 troops
Payload: 9,250 kg (20,392 lbs)
Length: 24.50 m (80 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 25.81 m (84 ft 8 in)
Height: 8.60 m (28 ft 3 in)
Wing area: 59 m² (634.8 ft²)
Max. takeoff weight: 23,200 kg (51,146 lbs)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G Hamilton Standard 586-F (six bladed), 1,972 kW (2,645 hp) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 576 km/h (311 knots, 358 mph)
Cruise speed: 480 km/h (260 knots, 300 mph)
Range: 4,300 km (2,600 mi) 2,300 nmi; (with 4,550 kilograms (10,000 lb) payload)
Range with full payload: 1,333 km (828 mi; 720 nmi)
Ferry range: 5,220 km (3,240 mi; 2,820 nmi)
Service ceiling: 7,620 m (25,000 ft)
Takeoff run: 670 m (2,200 ft)
Landing run: 320 m (1,050 ft)
Sea Hercules C-130


General characteristics
Crew: 3 (two pilots, and one loadmaster are minimum crew)
Capacity:
92 passengers (128 for C-130J-30)
Payload: 42,000 lb (19,090 kg) ; for C-130J-30: 44,000 lb/ 19,900 kg
Length: 97 ft 9 in, 29.79 m (for C-130J-30: 112 ft, 9 in, 34.36 m)
Wingspan: 132 ft 7 in (40.41 m)
Height: 38 ft 10 in (11.84 m)
Wing area: 1,745 ft² (162.1 m²)
Empty weight: 75,562 lb (34,274 kg)
Useful load: 72,000 lb (33,000 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: up to 175,000 lb (79,378 kg); normal 155,000 lb (70,305 kg)
Powerplant: 4 × Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 turboprop, 4,637 shp (3,458 kW) each
Propellers: Dowty R391 6-blade composite propeller, 1 per engine
Performance
Maximum speed: 362 knots (417 mph, 671 km/h)
Cruise speed: 348 kn (400 mph, 643 km/h)
Range: 2,835 nmi (3,262 mi, 5,250 km)
Service ceiling: 28,000 ft (8,615 m) with 42,000 pounds (19,090 kilograms) payload
Absolute altitude 40,386 ft (12,310 m)[71]
Takeoff distance: 3,127 ft (953 m) at 155,000 lb (70,300 kg) gross weight
 

Adux

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2009
Messages
4,022
Likes
1,707
Country flag
Price is going to be a huge consideration, since there is a lot of such configured aircraft required after 26/11
 

Geoffrey R. Stone

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2012
Messages
89
Likes
6
Speaking as a Canadian-born citizen of Chinese descent, hoping to show some good will from Chinese people, I sincerely hope that India will be able to rely entirely on domestic defense items someday. It will be a good day when Russian, European, and American companies can not reap profits from India's defense requirements.
 

Adux

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2009
Messages
4,022
Likes
1,707
Country flag
Speaking as a Canadian-born citizen of Chinese descent, hoping to show some good will from Chinese people, I sincerely hope that India will be able to rely entirely on domestic defense items someday. It will be a good day when Russian, European, and American companies can not reap profits from India's defense requirements.
Its basically investment, but on the longer run, we will get a enormous boost technologically, which we are utilizing in multiple other areas.
Good example, is the Thales- Samtel venture. This is kind of boost something the chinese cant even imagine, We get more technologically and in time.
 
Last edited:

Geoffrey R. Stone

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2012
Messages
89
Likes
6
Yes. I agree. That's why I said "someday". Rather than develop an enduring dependency on foreign wares, India should use that know-how to develop a domestic military industrial complex.

We have to loose money, but on the longer run, we will get a enormous boost technologically, which we are utilizing in multiple other areas.
Good example, is the Thales- Samtel venture.
 

Adux

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2009
Messages
4,022
Likes
1,707
Country flag
Yes. I agree. That's why I said "someday". Rather than develop an enduring dependency on foreign wares, India should use that know-how to develop a domestic military industrial complex.
India doesnt even invest as much as the Chinese in R&D, yet in lot of areas, they are far ahead of the Chinese, that is because Indian technology projects are greatly aided by Foreign technology which has become the basis of creating new Indian technology, we are jumping generations. By 2025-30, India will be producing high class defense technology.
 

Latest Replies

Global Defence

New threads

Articles

Top