SAAF’s C-130BZ Hercules fleet could get R1.6bn upgrade
The department of defence and military veterans (DoD) is exploring upgrading the SA Air Force (SAAF) C-130BZ Hercules fleet at a cost of R1.6 billion.
According to a reply to a parliamentary question by Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise, “a Required Operational Capability (ROC) is in process for the upgrade of the current C-130 fleet”.
Democratic Alliance’s shadow defence minister Kobus Marais, in another question, asked Modise about Armscor’s discussions to acquire second-hand C-130s, based on known approaches to Armscor by both the Royal Air Force and US Air Force.
It asks, in part, if she and/ or Armscor “considered discussions” with Lockheed Martin and the two air forces “for support to acquire new and/or well-maintained aircraft”.
This would, in Marais’ view give the SAAF a serviceable fleet of “at least six to seven aircraft”.
The US offer was in the form of correspondence from the US Embassy Office of Defence Cooperation offering Hercules C-130H models through the excess defence articles programme. “This letter was sent to the CSANDF [chief of the SANDF) and routed to CAF [chief of the Air Force].”
The SAAF considered three options.
The first, according to Modise, was to spend no money and decline the purchase of second-hand aircraft and not upgrade the current C-130BZ fleet – this would mean aircraft lifespan terminates in 2024.
The second was also to decline the purchase offer and upgrade aircraft currently in 28 Squadron’s inventory, returning to service “the rest of the fleet”.
Upgrade cost is estimated at R1.6 billion for five aircraft presently in service aircraft and one in long-term storage.
This would enable the C-130BZs to remain airworthy until 2040.
The third option is to accept the US purchase offer at R228 million per aircraft and simultaneously upgrade the fleet of five aircraft for R1.6 billion. Second-hand C-130H models would be able to serve until 2028 and the C-130BZs until 2040.
“The SAAF considered option two,” Modise stated in her reply. She said the door for additional Hercules transports is not completely closed, stating that Armscor “indicated” to Lockheed Martin it awaits the DoD restarting the acquisition process.
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