On 21DEC2021, a U.S. designed Iraqi C-130J-30 Super Hercules landed Iraqi officials to inspect Erbil Air Base, as part of the official end to U.S. led coalition combat operations.
On 13DEC2021, a U.S. designed Iraqi C-130J-30 picks-up cargo at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. It has been revealed that since February 2021, Iraqi C-130Js have picked-up more than $18-million worth of U.S. taxpayer funded ‘free stuff’ on Ali Al Salem Air Base.
Iraqis conduct ‘C2 Checks’ on their C-130J-30, August 2019.
In June 2018, Lockheed Martin was given an $87-million contract to support the Iraqi Air Force, including ground equipment, spares, repairs and familiarization training on their six C-130J-30 Super Hercules, good until Summer 2022. The actual ‘overall’ value of the contact is capped at $100-million.
In February 2018, an Iraqi C-130J-30 dropped a load on the Besmaya Range Complex.
March 2017 U.S. Air Force video report, by Technical Sergeant Lance Daigle, about training the Iraqi Air Force to use their new C-130Js:
U.S. Army video, by Private First Class Christopher Brecht, of an Iraqi C-130J-30 arriving on Qayyarah West Airfield, 30OCT2016. The airfield was held by so called Islamic State, the Iraqi C-130J was the first coalition aircraft to land after Islamic State was removed:
In 2015, Lockheed Martin was given an $8-million contract to help maintain Iraq’s C-130E and C-130J transports, good until Summer 2017.
In 2014, the U.S. government approved a Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of $800-million worth of equipment, parts, training and logistical support for Iraq’s C-130E and C-130J transports.
The final three, of the original order of six, Iraqi C-130J-30s were delivered in April 2013.
Iraq’s first C-130J-30s were delivered by a ‘select crew’ from Rhode Island Air National Guard’s 143rd Airlift Wing (the first and longest serving C-130J Super Hercules unit, according to the Air National Guard).
By the end of 2012, Iraq got three brand new Lockheed Martin C-130J-30s, the first half of a U.S. Office of Security Assistance-Iraq’s Strategic Framework Agreement-Foreign Military Sale of six C-130Js. The deal (presented to the U.S. Congress in 2008, the deal then ‘upgraded’ to include helicopters in 2009) was estimated to be worth $1.5-billion over the life of the program, and initially included four Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 spare engines; six AAR-47 missile warning systems; two spare AAR-47 missile warning systems; six AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispensing systems; and two spare AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispensing systems.
Cold War Battle Damage 1987: ALL HAIL THE HAIL BUSTER! WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FLY YOUR C-130E THROUGH A HAILSTORM?
Retired Cold War HC-130, August 2021: OLD HC-130 GETS NEW JOB AS GATE GUARD