DTN News - INDIA DEFENSE NEWS: IAF's Super Hercules Transport Plane Crashes Near Gwalior
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth + Zee News
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 28, 2014: According to officials, the aircraft was carrying an unknown number of people. Rescue operations are underway.
The C-130J aircraft was one of the six bought from the US two years ago.
The plane had reportedly taken off from Agra in Uttar Pradesh. The incident is shocking since the plane, known as the safest aircraft, has capabilities of landing and taking off even in improvised or short airfields, and without lights.
India had recently deployed a C-130J Super Hercules of the Indian Air Force in Kuala Lumpur to take part in the international search for the missing Malaysian airliner in the South Indian Ocean region.
More details are awaited.
*Narration on IAF C-130J Super Hercules
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s meeting with US President Barack Obama in Washington Sept. 27, the Indian Defence Ministry’s highest body on Friday cleared the acquisition of six C-130J Hercules transport aircraft from the US.
The aircraft are being purchased on a government-to-government basis at a cost of more than US $1 billion. The clearance to top the existing six C-130J aircraft with another six was made at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council.
The Lockheed Martin-built aircraft have been effective in rugged terrain, including mountains, for transporting troops and cargo, an Indian Air Force official said. “We are very happy with the performance of the Hercules, and the aircraft does everything which IAF wants,” the official said.
The Air Force has stood up a new squadron for flying the C-130J. Squadron 77 is nicknamed the “Veiled Vipers” with a motto “strike to kill.”
In August 2013, the Air Force landed the C-130J at the Daulat Beg Oldie airstrip in Ladakh bordering China in northern India, known as the world’s highest airfield. The airstrip’s elevation is 16,614 feet and the landing was considered a “strong gesture to China,” defense analyst Nitin Mehta said.
In 2007, India signed a deal to purchase six C-130Js for around $1.1 billion.
In September 2013, the Air Force inducted the first of 10 C-17 transport aircraft contracted from the United States at more than $4 billion.
India’s military transport fleet includes the Russian-made IL-76 and Antonov-32 aircraft.
An Air Force source said India plans to buy six additional C-17s on top of the already contracted 10 aircraft.-
*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources Zee News
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*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com
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