26th Annual C-130 Hercules Operators Conference Highlights Fleet Sustainment Solutions
26th Annual C-130 Hercules Operators Conference Highlights Fleet Sustainment Solutions
ATLANTA, Oct. 31 / -- Nearly 700 representatives of 32 nations that fly variants of the C-130 aircraft met this week in Atlanta for the 26th annual Hercules Operators Conference held by Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT).
Conference attendees share the goal of maximizing the capabilities and readiness of the workhorse C-130 Hercules airlifter by sharing lessons learned about the aircraft and its sustainability.
Among many other missions flown, the newest C-130J versions -- called Super Hercules -- have proved themselves in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. For example, during a recent 20-month period, C-130Js were used as part of a joint force deployment for high tempo intra-theater operations. The results: four C-130Js conducted 5,444 sorties over 10,750 flight hours, delivered 12,681 tons of cargo and carried 70,350 passengers.
"The C-130 demonstrates every day how it is capable of meeting the full range of tactical airlift missions," said Ross Reynolds, vice president of Lockheed Martin C-130 programs. "In addition to its tremendous performance in combat, the C-130J and earlier B-H models continue critical missions around the world in humanitarian support, in-flight refueling, weather reconnaissance, electronic warfare, medical evacuation, search and rescue, paradrop, special operations and many other missions."
More than 2,300 Hercules aircraft have been delivered to over 60 nations.
The Operators Conference is focused largely on sustainment of the fleet. To meet this need, Lockheed Martin is providing new support solutions that deliver higher readiness rates, faster response to customer needs, enhanced aircraft performance, and more rapid implementation of modifications and upgrades.
"We've developed new business models and established the infrastructure necessary to provide you with support solutions that will deliver higher readiness rates and best value solutions guaranteed to provide increased performance metrics year after year. We want you to know that you can depend on us to be there to support you not only in the performance demands of today, but throughout the entire lifecycle of your aircraft," said Marillyn Hewson, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Global Sustainment, during her opening keynote address at the conference.
Attendees at the 2007 Hercules Operator's Conference include pilots, maintainers and crew chiefs who operate and sustain all versions and models of the aircraft throughout the United States and around the world. In addition, representatives from the Hercules Service Centers, various U.S. government agencies, and several C-130 Hercules vendors and suppliers attended the conference.
Lockheed Martin is a major supplier of logistics systems and services to military and civil government customers. The corporation provides solutions for platform maintenance, modifications and repair, material readiness and distribution, and global supply chain command and control.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2006 sales of $39.6 billion.
For additional information, visit our Web site:
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/
Source: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company
CONTACT:
Peter Simmons
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Dexter Henson
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dexter.q.henson@lmco.com, both of Lockheed Martin
Web site: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/
