New Zealand Welcomes Its First C-130J: A Significant Boost to the Global Super Hercules Fleet

A transformative era of strategic airlift potential for New Zealand has officially commenced with Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) providing the inaugural C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifter to the New Zealand Ministry of Defence and New Zealand Defence Force during a ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Marietta, Georgia, on Aug. 8.

For nearly sixty years, the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s (RNZAF) C-130Hs have functioned as vital first-response assets for New Zealand and the broader Indo-Pacific area. Teams from 40 Squadron based at RNZAF Base Auckland, Whenuapai, will manage the new C-130Js, which represent one of the most sophisticated configurations of the Super Hercules ever manufactured.

“From aiding humanitarian and disaster relief efforts to collaborating with allies in military endeavors, New Zealand’s C-130s stand as a truly global force for good,” stated Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Air Mobility & Maritime Missions division. “The RNZAF’s latest C-130J fleet will continue to fulfill these essential missions while providing New Zealand enhanced allied integration, broader operational reach, superior capabilities, and verified performance for some of the most rigorous tactical airlift operational demands.”