New Delhi:
The crash of Indian Air Force's C-130 J Super Hercules aircraft near Gwalior this morning has come as a big shock to military aviation specialists. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered by the Air Force to probe the reason behind the crash in which five of its personnel were killed.
The C-130 J is a multi-role aircraft that can fly for 12-14 hours without refueling, and is capable of landing in rough terrain. Primarily used as a transport aircraft, the C-130 J also has the ability to refuel mid-air. Despite its jumbo size - it's more than 97 feet long and weighs 34,000 kg - the Super Hercules requires short take-off and landing strips.
The aircraft is known to be very sturdy and reliable, and has four engines. It can carry a payload of 15-20 tonnes - that would mean a couple of tanks and Humvees (High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle).
India purchased six of these aircraft between 2010-2012 at a cost over 950 million dollars or Rs 5750 crore.
Based in Hindon, near Delhi, the C-130 J can carry 200 Special Forces men, used for para dropping during tactical, operational and strategic operations.
In recent times, the aircraft has successfully landed at the world's highest and recently-activated Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) airstrip in Ladakh near the Line of Actual Control, India's disputed border with China.
It was also involved in the search and rescue for MH370, the Malaysia Airlines plane that went missing on March 8 with 239 people on board.