Long awaited upgrades to take place on Taiwanese C-130s

After many years of delay the Chung-Hua Min Guo Kong Jun (RoCAF, Republic of China Air Force) has been given the green light to upgrade 19 of its Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules transport aircraft. Purchased in three batches ranging from the mid 1980s until the late 1990s the C-130Hs are going to receive major upgrades starting in 2025 at a cost of some USD 300 million.

The project includes a wide range of upgrades such as the aircraft's chassis, cockpit avionics, GPS systems, ECM equipment, communication suite and flight assist systems. Further upgrades will also cover ground warning systems and anti-collision warning systems.

The end result will bring the fleet in line with international aviation regulations and will also increase Taiwan's capability to conduct humanitarian missions. It is foreseen that by 2030 the entire fleet will have gone through the upgrade project.

Credit photo: Coen van den Dries (Scramble Archive)