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List of Lockheed C-130 Hercules operators

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}

File:Algerian Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules (L-382) Bidini-1.jpg

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a multipurpose military transport aircraft used by many states around the world, this is a list of the current and former operators.

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Current operators

File:C-130 Hercules (52231661736).jpg

= Algeria - Italy =

  • Algeria - Algerian Air Force{{cite news |last = |first = |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=90688|title = World Air Forces 2023|newspaper = Flight Global|publisher= Flightglobal Insight |year= 2023 |doi = |access-date= 7 July 2023}}
  • 2ème Escadre de Transport Tactique et Logistique (three squadrons) - Boufarik Airport{{Cite web |last=Scramble - Dutch Aviation Society |title=Orbats - Algeria - Air Force |url=https://scramble.nl/planning/orbats/algeria/algeria-air-force |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=scramble.nl}}
  • Argentina - Argentine Air Force
  • Australia - Royal Australian Air Force
  • Austria - Austrian Air Force
  • Lufttransportstaffel (Linz/Horsching) (C-130K)
  • Bahrain - Royal Bahraini Air Force
  • Bangladesh - Bangladesh Air Force
  • Bolivia - Bolivian Air Force
  • Botswana - Botswana Air Force
  • Cameroon - Cameroon Air Force
  • Canada -
  • Royal Canadian Air Force - 26 in use as of January 2025, 7 C-130H Hercules, 2 C-130H-30 Hercules, 17 C-130J-30 Hercules {{cite book |title=The Military Balance |date=2025 |publisher=International Institute for Strategic Studies |isbn=978-1-041-04967-8}}{{rp|32}}
  • Coulson Aviation,{{cite web |title=Fleet |url=https://www.coulsonaviationusa.com/fleet |website=Coulson Aviation |access-date=13 July 2023}}{{cite web |title=Coulson Aviation to bring another C-130 airtanker online this summer |url=https://skiesmag.com/news/coulson-aviation-bring-another-c130-airtanker-online-summer/ |website=Skies Mag |access-date=13 July 2023}} as airtankers for use on wildfires
  • Chad - Chad Air Force
  • Chile - Chilean Air Force

File:Lockheed C-130H Hercules, Egypt - Air Force JP7342099.jpg C-130H]]

File:Greek Air Force C-130H Hercules Lofting.jpg

File:C-130.jpg

=== Japan ===

The Japan Defense Agency ordered the C-130H which was the newest model in 1981. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) purchased 16 in total to replace aging C-1 and YS-11P aircraft. The C-130Hs were received from 1984 to 1998.

JASDF C-130Hs were active in Iraq from 2004 to 2008. Two C-130Hs (95-1080 and 95–1083) have been equipped with aerial fuel-receiving and refueling functions, making them of KC-130H standard.{{cite web|url=http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1171 |title=Boeing Team Delivers C-130H Aerial Refueling Tanker to Japan |publisher=Boeing Company |date=20 April 2010 |accessdate=27 September 2017}}"[http://www.asagumo-news.com/news/201003/100304/10030406.htm C-130H added aerial refueling and reputation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311220952/http://www.asagumo-news.com/news/201003/100304/10030406.htm |date=11 March 2010 }}"(Japanese). Asagumo News. Retrieved 25 April 2010. This provides the JASDF with the ability to refuel the UH-60J search and rescue helicopters of its Air Rescue Wing.

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

The JMSDF bought six used KC-130R aircraft that were in storage, having been previously operated by the US Marines. There was some speculation that they may be used as gunships with the Harvest HAWK kit.{{cite web |url=http://jsw.newpacificinstitute.org/?p=9975 |title=The Mystery of Japan's KC-130 Buy |last=Mizokami |first=Kyle |date=27 February 2012 |website=jsw.newpacificinstitute.org |access-date=11 November 2017 |archive-date=3 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803094120/http://jsw.newpacificinstitute.org/?p=9975 |url-status=dead }} In actuality they were purchased to replace three aging YS-11M/M-A aircraft of Air Transport Squadron 61.

Their air to air refueling equipment was removed, making them of C-130R standard. Corrosion repair was done and the aircraft were refitted with new landing gear supports, cargo door supports and center wing rainbow fittings. In addition to structural modifications, Japan received thirty overhauled Allison T56-A-16 engines and digital cockpit upgrades to include a digital GPS. Regeneration of the first aircraft began in November 2012 and was planned to be completed by Fall 2013.[http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.NAVAIRNewsStory&id=5277 Sale Gives New Life to Excess C-130s] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314050915/http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.NavairNewsStory&id=5277 |date=14 March 2013 }} - NAVAIR.Navy.mil, 7 March 2013 Retrieved 27 September 2017 The six C-130Rs were supplied from 2014 to 2016.{{cite news |author= |title=Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force C-130s |url=http://www.c-130.net/aircraft-database/C-130/serials-and-inventory/airforce/JMSDF/ |access-date=9 November 2017 }}

= Jordan - Venezuela =

File:C-130 (12549644324).jpg

  • Libya - Libyan Air Force. Previously operated by the Libyan Air Force under Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's rule until 2011. Sixteen C-130H were ordered, but only eight were delivered, and the remaining aircraft embargoed in 1971.{{cite book |last1=Cooper |first1=Tom |last2=Grandolini |first2=Albert |last3=Delalande |first3=Arnaud |title=Libyan Air Wars, Part 1: 1973-1985 |date=2015 |publisher=Helion & Company Publishing |location=Solihull, UK |isbn=978-1-909982-39-0 |page=10}}
  • Malaysia - Royal Malaysian Air Force
  • Mexico - Mexican Air Force
  • Morocco - Royal Moroccan Air Force
  • 3rd Royal Moroccan Air Base/Escadre de Transport based at Kenitra Air Base (C-130H){{Cite web |last=Scramble - Dutch Aviation Society |title=Orbats - Royal Moroccan Air Force |url=https://scramble.nl/planning/orbats/morocco/royal-moroccan-air-force#GMMP102 |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=scramble.nl}}
  • Netherlands - Royal Netherlands Air Force
  • New Zealand - Royal New Zealand Air Force
  • No. 40 Squadron RNZAF,{{Cite web |last=Royal New Zealand Air Force |title=C-130H(NZ) Hercules |url=https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/air-force/our-equipment/aircraft/c-130hnz-hercules/ |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=www.nzdf.mil.nz |language=en-NZ}} RNZAF Base Auckland
  • Niger - Niger Air Force
  • Nigeria - Nigerian Air Force
  • 301 Heavy Airlift Group based at Lagos/Murtala Muhammed International Airport (C-130H, C-130H-30).{{cite web | url=https://scramble.nl/planning/orbats/nigeria/nigeria-air-force | title=Orbats }} On 26 September 1992 a Nigerian C-130H, serial number 911 crashed three minutes after take-off from Lagos, when three engines failed possibly due to high take-off weight. All 158 people on board were killed, including eight foreign nationals.{{ASN accident|id=19920926-1|title=Lockheed C-130H Hercules NAF911 Lagos}}

File:Moroccan Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules (cropped).jpg Lockheed C-130H Hercules]]

File:A C-130 Hercules flies over Denali National Park and Preserve (cropped).jpg C-130H Hercules over Denali National Park]]

Former operators

File:Bagram's runway stays busy (cropped).jpg in 2021]]

  • Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Afghan Air Force{{cite web |last = |first = |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/flight-international/how-afghanistans-fall-reshaped-world-air-forces-inventory/146576.article|title = World Air Forces 2022|publisher= Flightglobal Insight |year= 2022 |doi = |accessdate= 14 December 2021|url-access=registration}}
  • Belgium - Belgian Air Component{{cite web|url= https://www.brusselstimes.com/198363/belgium-retires-its-c-130s-after-50-years-of-service|title= Belgium retires its C-130s after 50 years of service |publisher= brusselstimes.com |date=|accessdate=12 July 2023}}
  • Brazil - Brazilian Air Force{{cite web|url= https://www.fab.mil.br/noticias/mostra/42216|title= FAB se despede da aeronave C-130 com uma série de homenagens |publisher= Brazilian Ai Force |date=|accessdate=7 March 2024}}
  • Honduras - Honduras Air Force
  • South Vietnam - South Vietnam Air Force{{cite web|title=Arms Transfers Database|url=https://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php|publisher=Stockholm International Peace Research Institute|access-date=12 July 2023}}
  • Spain - Spanish Air Force{{cite web|url= https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/26853-spanish-air-force-says-adios-to-c-130-hercules|title= Spanish Air Force says "adiós" to C-130 Hercules |publisher= aerotime.aero |date=4 January 2021|accessdate=12 July 2023}}
  • United Kingdom - Royal Air Force - The Royal Air Force began using the C-130K in the mid-1960s designated Hercules C.1. Some aircraft were lengthened and redesignated the C.3. From 1998 they took into service 10 standard C-130J as the Hercules C.4 and 15 lengthened C-130J-30 as the C.5.{{Cite web |title=The Hercules in RAF service |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/the-hercules-in-raf-service/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Royal Air Force |language=en-gb}} The decision was made to replace the Hercules with the A400M and the last C-130Js were withdrawn from service at end of June 2023 for sale.World Air Forces 2023 pp32-33{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Dominic |date=2023-04-17 |title=Final RAF C-130J mission set for 17 June as Hercules retirement nears |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/final-raf-c-130j-mission-set-for-17-june-as-hercules-retirement-nears/152876.article |access-date=2023-07-14 |website=Flight Global |language=en}} A single C.1 was converted into a W.2 and operated by the Meteorological Research Flight, nicknamed "Snoopy".
  • Yemen - Yemen Arab Republic Air Force
  • Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) - {{cite book|last1=Bayart|first1=Jean-François|title=The state in Africa: the politics of the belly|date=1993|publisher=Longman|location=London|isbn=0-582-06421-X|edition=2nd|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/stateinafricapol0000baya}}

See also

{{commons|C-130 Hercules}}

References

{{reflist}}

  • {{cite web |last = |first = |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=90688|title = World Air Forces 2023|publisher= Flightglobal Insight |year= 2023 |doi = |access-date= 7 July 2023}}

{{Lockheed Hercules}}

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Category:Lists of military units and formations by aircraft

Operators

C-130