News
A FIRST KC-130J for the Armée de l’Air (French Air Force) was delivered to Base Aérienne 123 Orléans- Bricy on September 19. KC-130J serial 5874 (c/n 5874) carried only a partial unit code, ‘61-’, but is allocated ‘61-PQ’ and is the first of two of these aerial refuelling tankers for Escadron de Transport 2/61 ‘Franche-Comté’.
![French KC-130J [Armee de l'Air via Dave Allport]](https://fullfatthings-keyaero.b-cdn.net/sites/keyaero/files/styles/article_body/public/inline-images/03%20EuropeNews.jpg?itok=_cGJVqxj)
KC-130J serial 5874 (c/n 5874) in-flight. Armée de l'Air (via Dave Allport)
The variant was awarded military type certification by the Direction générale de l’armement (DGA, the French defence procurement agency) on September 5. This is the third Super Hercules to arrive at Orléans-Bricy. A second KC-130J will be delivered next year. The refuelling version of the C-130J allows the air force to refuel Caracal helicopters in flight – a capability the unit hopes to implement within three months.
