Start Articles Industry Training Centre for C-130J Fleet

Franco-German C-130J squadron — Le C-130J se pose pour la première fois sur la BAP H5. 5 mois après son arrivée sur la BA 123 d'Orléans, la BAP a accueilli le premier C-130J Super Hercules pour une escale technique dans la zone de l'opération Chammal, avant de rejoindre Djibouti. Lancée depuis le 19 septembre 2014, l'opération Chammal mobilise actuellement 1000 militaires. Elle vise, à la demande du gouvernement irakien et en coordination avec les alliés de la France présents dans la région, à assurer un soutien aérien en Irak et en Syrie dans la lutte contre le groupe terroriste Daech, en frappant l'organisation terroriste avec ses moyens aériens. Le dispositif complet est actuellement structuré autour dehuit avions de chasse (rafale), quatre de l'Armée de l'air et quatre de la Marine Nationale, d'un avion de patrouille maritime Atlantique 2 ainsi que des capacités de renseignement, de commandement, de contrôle (C2) et de ravitaillement. il comprend également des militaires projetés à Bagdad et Erbil pour la formation et le conseil des militaires irakiens.

Training Centre for C-130J Fleet

Jack Richardson

17. May 2021

Thales and Rheinmetall have been tasked with certifying the future training centre organisation for the Franco-German C-130J transport aircraft fleet, the latter company has announced. The two companies are participating in the project as subcontractors (50/50) to Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor of the France/Germany Multinational Training Centre and manufacturer of the C-130J SUPER HERCULES transport aircraft.

Awarded in March 2021, Rheinmetall and Thales will provide personnel and services related to the certification of the training centre organisation. The training centre qualification is to be completed in Q1 2024, and the training operation will commence in 2024. The initial establishment and certification phase may be followed by an optional operating phase. If the operating phase is awarded, Thales and Rheinmetall will provide all management personnel, qualified flight and ground crew instructors as well as maintenance personnel for the operation of all training devices.

The training centre is to be established at Évreux in Normandy, home to the French Air Force’s 62nd Transport Squadron, and will host the new French and German C-130J SUPER HERCULES aircraft as a joint transport squadron. The accompanying training centre is to be certified as an Approved Training Organisation by the French Civil Aviation Authority.

Training Centre Importance

The Franco-German transport aircraft project is one of Europe’s key air force programmes. In Évreux, Germany and France intend to jointly operate a total of 10 C-130J SUPER HERCULES aircraft starting this year with joint cockpit crews as well as mixed teams on the ground. France has already taken delivery of a total of four C-130Js, whereas Germany will contribute six aircraft to the squadron, with deliveries starting in 2022, to replace the German TRANSALL C-160.

With this project, Thales and Rheinmetall are continuing an already successful cooperation in the field of Franco-German aviation training following the “TIGERAircrew Training Means” for the German and French crews of the TIGER attack helicopter.

Jack Richardson