Argentina Received C-130H Aircraft On Lease from The US Air Force

Argentina has received a C-130H Hercules aircraft on lease from the United States Air Force (USAF). The aircraft belonged to the Georgia Air National Guard (ANG).

This support from Georgia ANG is part of a 200 year long partnership between the United States and Argentina.

Meanwhile, the State of Georgia itself is a partnership that has lasted seven years since 2016.

The C-130H aircraft were received on 6 June 2023. C-130H personnel from the 165th AW (Airlift Wing) stayed for ten days to train an additional five crew members in I Brigada at El Palomar Air Base.

Under the charter agreement, the 165AW aircrew and crew of the C-130 Argentina flew the aircraft from the US to Argentina on the delivery of the aircraft.

The aircraft will be the youngest C-130 in the Argentine Air Force's fleet for 21 years and could extend the life of the fleet for many years to come.
The C-130 Hercules will be used by the Argentine Armed Forces to carry out tactical transport and troop drop missions.

The aircraft will operate mostly on rough dirt runways which are difficult to access without the aircraft.

The USAF said the C-130H was leased by Argentina for 11 months and could be purchased thereafter.

Developed by Lockheed Martin, the C-130 Hercules was the USAF's primary transport aircraft for decades.

It carries cargo, including utility helicopters, armored vehicles, and military personnel.

As an air delivery platform, the aircraft can carry a payload of up to 42,000 pounds (19,050 kilograms) and uses high-flotation landing gear to land on rough dirt tracks.