KC-130J Super Tanker
 Air-to-air and rapid ground refueling capabilities make the KC-130J an indispensable element of operations requiring the high tempo, fast turnaround of an aircraft designed to perform the mission quickly. It meets the requirements for toughness and durability, power and performance, as today’s most advanced tactical tanker. On the ground, the KC-130J provides rapid ground refueling of helicopters, vehicles and fuel caches at 4,018 pounds per minute. The aircraft’s unique propeller feathering feature (known as “hotel mode”) means the props can stop while the turbines continue to run and pump fuel. This windmilling of the propellers eliminates blast behind the KC-130J – which allows ground forces to operate in relative calm while the aircraft offloads up to 600 gallons per minute. In the air, the KC-130J offers a 57,500-pound fuel offload capacity using wing and external tanks – and a 500-nautical mile operating radius. The aircraft is ready to fuel fixed or rotary-wing aircraft using the standard probe and drogue. When more fuel is needed, an additional 24,392 pounds of fuel can be offloaded from a specially configured internal fuselage tank. The system also functions without the fuselage tank, so the cargo compartment can be used for cargo on the same mission, giving the aircraft even greater flexibility.  The KC-130J, like the standard C-130J, converts from normal lighting to night vision compatible lighting simply and easily, meaning greater safety during covert missions, night formation refueling and night tactical ground refueling. The aircraft also features an integrated radar warning receiver, missile warning system, infrared countermeasures system and a countermeasures dispensing system.
On any mission, the KC-130J offers 30 percent greater thrust than previous KC-130 versions – and 50 knots faster cruise speed. Only 1,000 feet is required for maximum effort takeoff and short field landing, compared to older models that required 2,500-feet runway length. As with every Super Hercules, pilot workload is down sharply, thanks to twin head-up displays and quadruple redundant mission computers. The Global Positioning System and Inertial Navigation System precisely track aircraft position, while onboard systems provide traffic alerting and collision avoidance. In all flight regimes, crews are better informed for the mission – and are ready to meet the requirements.
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