Taiwan will acquire new Lockheed Martin transports after determining fleet upgrades too costly. The island’s 36-year-old C-130Hs face replacement amid regional military modernization.
Taiwan has decided to acquire 10 Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transports, abandoning plans for a comprehensive modernization of its aging C-130H fleet after determining the overhaul program would be prohibitively expensive.
The Republic of China Air Force reached the decision following a detailed assessment of its existing aircraft, according to Taiwan media reports citing the country’s Ministry of National Defense. The move represents a significant shift in the island’s military airlift strategy and would require approval from the U.S. government through the Foreign Military Sales process.
Taiwan had initially explored a major upgrade program for its C-130H fleet that would have included avionics and cockpit modernization along with structural improvements. However, defense officials concluded the expense of such extensive modifications would leave the air force operating refurbished older equipment rather than benefiting from newer technology available in the C-130J platform.
Under the revised plan, Taiwan’s existing C-130H transports will receive only limited updates. The new C-130Js will supplement the older aircraft, with the modern transports specifically enhancing the air force’s night operations capabilities.
Aviation analytics firm Cirium reports Taiwan currently operates 20 C-130Hs in active service, with the fleet averaging 36 years of age. Nineteen of these aircraft perform utility transport missions, while a single C-130HE variant is equipped for electronic warfare operations. According to Taiwan media, this specialized electronic warfare asset will continue flying even after the C-130J fleet enters service.
The proposed acquisition awaits formal approval from U.S. authorities. As of now, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency has not published a Foreign Military Sales case for the Taiwan C-130J purchase.
Taiwan’s decision reflects broader trends across the Asia-Pacific region, where air forces are progressively upgrading their tactical transport capabilities. Singapore is incorporating used C-130Hs to replace its oldest aircraft, while South Korea has committed to acquiring the Embraer C-390. Indonesia recently accepted delivery of its first Airbus Defence & Space A400M, marking another addition to the region’s evolving military airlift inventory.
The C-130J represents Lockheed Martin’s latest iteration of the venerable Hercules tactical transport, featuring modern avionics, enhanced engines, and improved operational efficiency compared to earlier H-model variants.
Key Takeaways
- Taiwan will purchase 10 new Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transports after rejecting costly upgrades to its 36-year-old C-130H fleet.
The island’s 20 existing C-130Hs will receive limited updates while new aircraft enhance night operations capability. - Taiwan’s specialized C-130HE electronic warfare variant will remain operational alongside the new transports.
- The acquisition requires U.S. government Foreign Military Sales approval, with no case yet posted by defense authorities.
- The move aligns with regional military modernization efforts across Asia-Pacific nations, upgrading tactical airlift capabilities.
