The Chilean Air Force has taken delivery of a Lockheed Martin KC-130R Hercules refueling/transport aircraft. The aircraft is the first of two to be delivered this year to Chile’s Aviation Group No. 10.
The KC-130R was previously flown by the USMC and offered by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency as an Excess Defense Article in September 2012. The aircraft was transferred to Chile at a symbolic price of only $700,000.
A second KC-130R was offered in August 2013 and is expected to be delivered later this year or in early 2016.
The aircraft will be overhauled by Lockheed Martin prior to delivery.
The aircraft are intended as a stop-gap measure until new transports can be acquired. The Air Force already operates two C-130Hs and one C-130B but has been seeking to augment the fleet.
The Air Force is also interested in procuring four to six medium turboprop transports.
