Lockheed Martin will supply the Egyptian Armed Forces with two C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical airlifters for the Egyptian Air Force (EAF).

The order was announced during the Egypt International Airshow in El Alamein on September 5 2024. It will be fulfilled via the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) mechanism run by the US Air Force. A potential FMS covering the sale of 12 C-130J-30s to Egypt was signed on January 25, 2022. The two aircraft will be delivered in 2026, making Egypt the 23rd nation to join the Super Hercules operating community.

A Lockheed Martin statement said: “As the most advanced and proven tactical airlifter in the world, the C-130J-30 delivers enhanced capability, additional versatility and increased power to EAF crews.”

Lockheed Martin added: “Egypt operates one of the world's largest C-130H fleets, which has a significant presence in the Middle East North Africa [MENA] region, supporting military, peacekeeping, humanitarian and natural disaster response mission requirements.”

Egypt joins seven other MENA nations that have chosen the C-130J as a medium-sized tactical airlifter and tanker, the company added.

Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Air Mobility and Maritime Missions line of business, said: “Egypt is a distinguished C-130 operator, flying its Hercules fleet to support some of the most challenging mission requirements.” He added: “With these new C-130J-30s, the Egyptian Air Force’s tactical airlift presence will deliver unmatched capabilities and aligned force amplification to serve Egypt, North Africa and the world."

Lockheed Martin said it has delivered more than 545 C-130Js to date, with the Super Hercules global fleet having surpassed more than three million flight hours.

The company cited the C-130J’s “operational readiness with the greatest ease of transition, increased reliability, superior tactical airlift and combat airdrop capabilities, certification by more than 20 airworthiness authorities, and enhanced survivability”.

The aircraft, it said, “also delivers unmatched interoperability with NATO and partner nations, robust industrial partnerships and verified low life-cycle costs with significant fuel savings, resulting in a reduced carbon footprint compared to other medium-sized jet airlifters”.