<Music> Welcome to Into the Cockpit, where we examine the capabilities of advanced aircraft. Today, we are exploring the transformative technology
that makes the Lockheed Martin C-130J a trusted, rugged and versatile
tactical airlift platform. To be a modern airlifter,
an aircraft needs to perform in austere and contested environments, have the digital cockpit as well as a high-tech cargo compartment, and be capable of supporting constantly changing mission requirements. The C-130 is a proven workhorse,
flying over 25 million hours in support of 70 nations around the world,
and the upgraded C-130J Super Hercules builds on its predecessor's
technological advancements. Let's take a look. This is a C-130J. It delivers supplies, people, fuel and equipment wherever
and whenever they're needed. It reaches even the most remote areas,
thanks to its four turboprop engines that are equipped with six-bladed
composite propellers mounted to a reinforced straight wing. This turboprop wing combo
allows us to fly slower at lower altitudes where we can best support tactical mission profiles for humanitarian relief, search and rescue, airdrops and helicopter air refueling. The high mounted inlet on the turboprops
also reduces the chances of the engines ingesting dirt and debris while operating
out of short, unprepared airstrips. The C-130J can land on highways, deserts, mountains, islands, snowpack
or any relatively flat surface. The aircraft also integrates two mission
computers across all its systems, providing my crew advanced communication, advanced diagnostic reporting
and improved flight range, all of which combine to deliver the Super Hercules unhindered global access and enhanced connectivity for the mission. To stay ahead of evolving mission
requirements, C-130J pilots
have a state-of-the-art digital cockpit. Before flying, I enter my initial flight
plan and flight altitude into the flight management system, or FMS. The system then gives me optimum altitude, fuel flow and recommends route options. While flying the mission
computers collect data such as airspeed, GPS, engine performance and radar scans. They turn this raw data into
easy-to-understand displays for me and my co-pilot, ensuring we always know
the status of our aircraft systems and can make mission decisions quickly. Much of this operable information
is presented in our dual head-up display(s) or HUDs. The HUD shows us critical
flight information such as airspeed, altitude, attitude
and navigational instruments. It depicts flight paths for air drops
or search patterns and improves approaches
by outlining the runways so that we can see them at night
or in bad weather. By pressing one button, I can access
tactical information for air drops, including computed release points,
countdown release timers and receive position information to keep the aircraft
on time and on target for drop zones. The HUD automatically displays
special alerts about collision avoidance, stall speed warnings and marks
locations of incoming threats. Future Super Herc
HUDs will take advantage of enhanced vision systems that utilize infrared
sensors built into the nose to let pilots see through poor visibility
conditions like smoke, snow and rain. Because the HUD is certified
as our primary flight display, the LCD screens in the cockpit
can be customized to show a wide range of additional information
like live maps, weather radar, ground mapping radar or near real time
tactical visuals. All of these systems provide us vital information
and increase situational awareness faster so that we can make tactical decisions
when every second counts. The C-130J has unmatched versatility
thanks to its cargo compartment. I'll have our loadmaster give you a tour. The Super Hercules can support
different mission sets, all which rely upon a cargo bay that can transform rapidly. The cargo department is designed for fast
loading and unloading through the rear ramp. It can be situated at ground-level
or truck-bed height as it is here. This reduces the need for specialized
loading equipment. The ramp can also stay open at 250 knots, allowing us to keep it lowered
while flying between drop zones. I could convert the entire cargo
hold by myself in flight just by flipping floor panels. I can go from a slick walking floor
to pallet rollers for heavier loads. By reconfiguring the bay, we can support
different mission sets from cargo carrier to troop carrier to patient carrier. Roll-on modular mission packages can be loaded for armed overwatch, firefighting or any future mission requirement. The Herc’s cargo bay is also connected
to the aircraft mission computers through the enhanced
cargo handling system or ECHS. The ECHS controls on-load, offload,
and airdrop all from a single location. This link system helps us perform airdrops entirely by computer,
which gives us pinpoint accuracy. For larger jobs we can use the C-130J-30 stretch variant, which has the most cargo space
among medium-size tactical airlift. The Super Herc’s cargo compartment
delivers limitless operational potential and can be adapted for any mission. It always amazes me how one aircraft can easily accomplish
so many unique mission sets. The C-130J was designed to fly
the last mile in and the first mile out. No matter how contested the environment. To do this, the J can be equipped
with a suite of defensive measures, including small arms
armor kits, covert lighting and advanced friend
or foe identification systems. If the C-130J is threatened by missiles,
we are prepared with multiple defensive options, including flares and chaff, to
combat any radar or heat seeking threats. We can also counter radar guided weapons with an improved set of radio frequency
countermeasures. The J’s most cutting edge
defensive system is in its tail section and called the large aircraft
infrared countermeasures or LAIRCM. LAIRCM is a defensive system
that combines missile warning systems with infrared jammers. This provides automatic protection
from infrared guided threats by actively jamming them
using a guardian laser turret assembly. In the rare situation
where we lose an engine mid-mission, the C-130J can still continue the mission on three engines without compromising
the safety of the crew. All of these attributes combine
to allow the C-130J to take on some of the toughest missions
and bring their crews home safely. The C-130J is constantly evolving. It can be modified
and tailored to meet future non-traditional
air mobility operational needs. Such as releasing palletized effects
to act as a force multiplier, deploying swarms of multi-mission
expendables to engage threats with a multitude of effects,
or even operating as a communications node, actively collecting and distributing
critical information across the battle space as mission
requirements and crew needs change, the C-130J is ready to accomplish
any future mission. The C-130J is capable of deploying rapidly
to the furthest edges of the globe, operating reliably
in the most difficult environments, and has endless future potential. Thank you for joining us. As we've highlighted some of the distinguishing capabilities
that make the C-130J Super Hercules an innovative
and advanced tactical airlifter. We hope to see you
next time as we enter Into the Cockpit.