Mexican Air Force will be first operator of C-130J in Latin America

The Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Mexicana – FAM) recently announced that it is to acquire its first Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical transport aircraft, making Mexico the first country in Latin America to operate the C-130J, Lockheed Martin announced on 21 January 2026.

Lockheed Martin disclosed in a press release that the FAM’s acquisition of the Super Hercules was one of two international C-130J contract awards to be closed out in late 2025 (the second customer has yet to be disclosed).

The Mexican Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) had announced it would acquire a single C-130J-30 in September 2025, with reporting at the time suggesting the aircraft would be delivered in November 2028.

The C-130J-30 Super Hercules is the stretched version of the C-130J that adds 15 ft (4.57 m) of cargo space.

“This historic decision by Mexico reflects the continued trust placed in the C-130J Super Hercules by operators around the world,” Trish Pagan, vice president of Lockheed Martin Air Mobility & Maritime Missions, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “With their new C-130J-30, the Fuerza Aérea Mexicana’s tactical airlift capability will deliver unmatched performance, exceptional reliability and the versatility to perform all 20 missions the C-130J is certified to execute across Mexico, throughout Latin America and worldwide. The C-130J-30 is truly built to deliver and built to last.”

The FAM has long been a Hercules operator, having received its first C-130A in 1987. The air force currently operates two former Royal Air Force C-130K-30s and one L-100-30 civilian version of the type. These are also stretched versions of the Hercules.