The decision to procure 17 redesigned CC-130J Hercules tactical lift aircraft comes as Canada prepares the draw-down of combat forces in Afghanistan. These aircraft will be integral to the troop pullout and represent a significant boost in Canada’s overall operational capability. While not designed to move heavy materiel, the CC-130J can move a significant quantity of personnel, supplies and general light equipment to and from a theatre of operations.
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| Defence Minister Peter McKay rides proudly atop one of Canada's new CC-130J Hercules tactical lift aircraft following a ceremony at 8 Wing/CFB Trenton. |
When Canada conducted its initial deployment at the onset of the Afghan conflict, troops and equipment were ferried on a limited number of flights by the C-17 Globemaster aircraft operated out of Trenton. The majority of aerial supply was conducted by rented or borrowed transport aircraft including several flights by aging russian-built heavy-lift charter transports. Naval logistics to regional ports and joint-shipping with ally nations allowed Canada to move the significant quantities of equipment necessary for sustainment of the 9 year war-effort. Now, facing the prospect of withdrawal it has become glaringly obvious that the Canadian Forces lack tactical or operational mobility on any significant scale. One officer compared the scale of the withdrawal to uprooting and relocating a large village or town.
On the tactical level, the high-tech CC-130J’s will be capable of dropping a large quantity of supplies to deployed troops with greatly improved drop precision over previous versions of the same aircraft. This means that brave men and women in the frontlines will not have to wait as long or have as many complications related to receiving the supplies they need to sustain prolonged engagement. On two levels then, in the operational sense of enhanced deployment and in the tactical sense of enhanced logistics the CC-130J is a significant boost to Canadian combat effectiveness overall. In emergency situations, troops and equipment together can be deployed from the new platforms, which incorporate sophisticated global-positioning technology to coordinate drop locations with weather, time or combat variables.
New aircraft in the lift profile also mean the relegation of older C-130 variants to search and rescue, maritime patrol or even civilian operators. Overall, the improvement of capabilities through this procurement benefits domestic Canada. The position of Canada as a global player capable of rapid deployment and combat self-sufficiency is much more realistic with these platforms. The CC-130J plays a prominent role in strengthening not only national sovereignty but also in elevating overall national standing on the world stage. For an airframe with a 50 year operational history and a reputation for reliability, that modernized versions of the Hercules transport continue to be used is a testament to its quality.
