According to the Asia Pacific Defense Journal on October 18, 2023, the Philippines’ Department of National Defense (DND) has confirmed its order of three new C-130J Super Hercules tactical transport aircraft from Lockheed Martin. The DND’s issuance of the Notice to Proceed (NTP) to Lockheed Martin signifies the initiation of the contract to supply these advanced aircraft to the Philippine Air Force (PAF). The PAF is set to receive the C-130J-30 variant, an extended version of the Super Hercules, boasting a 15-foot longer fuselage compared to the standard model.
According to official sources, the delivery timeline for these new aircraft has been established. The first C-130J Super Hercules will be in the hands of the Philippine Air Force by July 2026, followed by the second in October 2026, and the third arriving by January 2027.
The acquisition of these C-130J Super Hercules aircraft positions the Philippines as the second country, after Indonesia, to incorporate these advanced transport aircraft into its military fleet. As of now, the PAF operates four legacy C-130H/T Hercules aircraft and has a pending delivery of one more C-130H, which was procured from US excess defense articles (EDA). Additionally, the United States government has pledged to transfer more C-130H aircraft as part of its military assistance to the Philippines.