Peru: budget approved for two former Spanish Air Force Lockheed Martin KC-130H

Through Ministerial Resolution No. 031-21-DE, the Peruvian  Ministry of Defense made available the 35 million dollars that will allow the  Air Force to incorporate 2 Lockheed KC-130H Hercules, which were recently decommissioned by the Spanish Air Force (Ejército del Aire –  EdA).

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As we anticipated in September last year, the EdA was decommissioning its fleet of Hercules transport aircraft, in favor of the modern A400M, and Peru rushed to reserve 2 units of the in-flight refueling variant.

The KC-130H acquired by Peru, like the Uruguayan units (which are already operational), are aircraft with many years of loyal service on top, but in the 2000s they underwent a deep modernization and  lifespan extension which, in addition to the excellent maintenance received during its operational life in Spain, transforms these Hercules into a more than interesting prospect considering the long remainder of flight hours ahead of them.

Currently, the Peruvian Air Force (FAP) has only 2 planes of the Hercules family, the L-100, which are the civil variant of the C-130, less capable than the military version. And since the deprogramming of its Boeing 707s almost two decades ago, the FAP has no in-flight refueling capability.

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The incorporation of these aircraft not only reinforces the FAP’s tactical and strategic airlift capabilities, but also allows it to regain the ability to extend the range of its fighter-bombers through in-flight refueling.

The crews and technical staff of the FAP have been taking training courses in Spain since last November. The new FAP KC-130Hs are expected to arrive in Peru by the end of the month.