Hillier for C-130J

The Chief of the Defence Staff is behind the new Herc.

The country's top military commander has stepped up to defend the Defence Department's controversial purchase of the much-maligned Hercules transport plane, saying despite past problems it remains the aircraft of choice among military flyers the world over.

Gen. Rick Hillier, the chief of defence staff, told a high-tech economic development agency Monday that acquiring the latest model of the C-130 Hercules is critical to the mission in southern Afghanistan [he obviously expects us to be there for quite some time].

Canada's current Hercules transport fleet is "tired,'' he said...

He compared the existing fleet of aircraft to a 1981 Ford Taurus that is constantly in the shop for repairs.

"I speak from experience,'' he said in a town hall-style speech, meant to highlight the Canadian Forces role in Afghanistan.

"You put it in the garage it's automatically going to be $500 just to drive it in the door. That doesn't mean it's not going to break down as soon as you take it out. That's exactly what happens with our C-130s.''

As the workhorse of the air force, Hillier said the Hercules transports have carried 23,000 soldiers and aircrew in to and out of Afghanistan this year. The aircraft are also a principle resupply lifeline dropping containers of ammunition, food and medical supplies to combat units scattered across the desert expanse.

The Conservative government plans to deal only with the U.S. defence giant Lockheed-Martin in its purchase of 17 new cargo planes. The plan recently prompted a storm of criticism in the Commons from all three opposition parties, one of which described the planes as "lemons'' due to some of the technical glitches they've faced.

Rival European aircraft-maker Airbus Military has complained bitterly that it's being shut out of competition for the $4.6-billion contract [see 2) at immediately preceding link for latest on A400M].

In an interview last week with The Canadian Press, Hillier staunchly defended the newest version of the Hercules, in which he has flown.

American and British crews, which are currently flying the C-130J "could not say enough good things about them,'' he said. Canadian pilots, who've been on exchange programs and flown the new Hercules, also sing its praises.

"From all those crews its the aircraft of choice,'' Hillier insisted...

Details here on other countries and the C-130J.

This paragraph from the story is a classic example of the hopelessness of Canadian journalists on defence matters (generally):

Several defence industry reports and even some internal Canadian air force assessments have been critical of the new C-130Js, saying its US $66-million pricetag is inflated, given that an earlier variant of the Hercules cost US $11 million [emphasis added].

Good grief! That $11 million is the cost in constant dollars (note story at link is May, 2005) of the 1960s C-130E. There is no realistic comparison between the cost of the E and the J versions given the huge advances (and cost increases) in electronics, avionics, engines, defensive systems etc. since the 1960s.

Anyone up to doing a constant dollar (link for Fred) comparison between a 737-200 and a 737-600 (and remember the C-130 has never really had a competitor)?