On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, the second of five used Lockheed C-130H Hercules medium transport aircraft, registration number 1512, intended for the Polish Air Force, landed at the 33rd Air Transport Base in Powidz (33. BLTr.). Its arrival was captured by aviation photographers from the Spotters 33 group.
The aircraft, previously registered as 89-1182, along with another unit 1513 (89-1185), underwent inspection and repairs funded by the U.S. at OGMA – Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal in Portugal. It has now joined 1511 (91-9141), which arrived in Powidz on December 12, 2023, and completed its first flight in Polish Air Force colors on March 11, 2024. These three aircraft were acquired through a modification of the original agreement with the U.S. under the C-130 Ramp-to-Ramp (R2R) program, meaning they were transferred directly from the U.S. Armed Forces. Previously, they served with the 154th Training Squadron of the Arkansas Air National Guard, stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base.
It is worth noting that the first two aircraft, 85-0035 and 85-0036, were previously transferred to Poland, arriving on July 15, 2022, and October 18, 2022, respectively. However, they are still undergoing maintenance at Military Aviation Works No. 2 (Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 2) in Bydgoszcz. These aircraft are currently undergoing periodic maintenance and a PDM (Programmed Depot Maintenance) structural inspection at WZL No. 2. Additionally, they are being equipped with extra avionics and flight systems in accordance with Polish Air Force requirements. They were acquired under the original contract signed on April 14, 2021, valued at 14.3 million USD, as a grant under the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program. Manufactured in 1985, both aircraft previously served with the 357th Airlift Squadron of the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, until their retirement in 2017. After decommissioning, they were placed in long-term storage under the control of the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at the boneyard in Tucson, Arizona.
The C-130H aircraft will replace the aging C-130E models, which were delivered to Poland between 2009 and 2012, on a 1:1 basis. The first two C-130Es have already been retired from service. The H variant features new avionics, laser gyroscopes, and the Northrop Grumman AN/APN-241 LPCR (Low Power Color Radar). Additionally, it is equipped with upgraded Allison T56-A-15 turboprop engines, each producing 3,377 kW (4,591 hp). The C-130H has a cruising speed of 589 km/h at an altitude of 6,060 meters. Its service ceiling with a maximum payload of 19,090 kg is 7,077 meters. The aircraft’s maximum takeoff weight is 69,750 kg, with a nominal payload capacity of 16,590 kg. Its range with a nominal payload is 1,945 km.
Poland has a maintenance and overhaul infrastructure for C-130 aircraft, both within the Polish Armed Forces and among entities within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ). This enables a high level of operational availability while engaging the domestic defense industry. This capability is the result of a strategic agreement signed on January 23, 2020, between PGZ and Lockheed Martin.
In addition to introducing more used Hercules aircraft, Poland is also interested in acquiring larger Airbus A400M-180 Atlas transport aircraft and tanker-transport aircraft under the Karkonosze program. On December 13, 2024, Poland signed a modernization and fleet unification contract with Airbus Defence and Space for 16 C295M light transport aircraft. By the end of the year, these aircraft had surpassed a total of 100,000 flight hours.