Super Hercules To Play Vital Role During Conflicts: Indian Air Force

Panagarh: The C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, a squadron of which has been set up here, has the capability to play an important role in case of a military conflict, Air Vice Marshal Vikram Singh said here today.

He was speaking after viewing a spectacular para diving exercise by seven para jumper instructors from one of the six aircraft of the C-130J Hercules squadron of the IAF at the Air Force Station Arjan Singh, earlier known as Panagarh air base.

AFS Arjan Singh is the base for the second C-130J Super Hercules squadron after the one at Hindon AFS near Delhi.

"The state-of-the-art aircraft with its tactical airlift and airdrop capabilities is a huge jump," Air Vice Marshal Singh, the Air officer Commanding, Advanced Headquarter, Eastern Air Command, said.

"In any future conflict, it will play a very important role," he said.

Asked whether the C-130J Super Hercules will play an important role in the case of a military conflict between India and China, Air Vice Marshal Singh said, "We don't buy aircraft with one particular adversary in mind, but given its capabilities it will certainly play an important role in such a scenario."

"The closest border with China due north is Sikkim and it will take less than an hour for the C130J to reach from here," he said when asked about the time that it might take to put up an operation.

India and China were engaged in a bitter border standoff over the construction of a road at Doklam earlier this year that lasted close to three months.

"It is the first transport aircraft with a head-up display which is normally found in a fighter aircraft," the Air Vice Marshal said, ahead of the 84th Air Force Day on October 8.

A head-up display is any transparent display that presents data without requiring users to look away from their usual viewpoints, thus saving precious time.

"It has infra-red sensor that gives the crew a monochromatic view in front and down below and thus helps the aircraft to fly very low and with accuracy at night," he said.