Mexico orders second C-130J-30 tactical transport

Lockheed Martin announced on 23 September that Mexico's air force is buying a second C-130J-30 Super Hercules. Mexico became the first C-130J operator in Latin America after an initial purchase of one aircraft, announced in January.

The new order is for the stretched-fuselage -30 variant of the four-engined turboprop, which adds about 4.5m (15ft) of cargo space over the standard C-130J model.

According to Lockheed, the first Mexican C-130J-30 flew emergency supplies, medical aid and personnel after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela in June. The company said the quakes killed more than 6,000 people.

Trish Pagan, vice-president of Lockheed's air mobility and maritime missions unit, called the C-130J the backbone of global airlift and said Mexico's continued investment showed confidence in the platform.

The Mexican air force also flies a legacy C-130K that is nearly 60 years old and a 45-year-old Lockheed L-100, the civilian cargo derivative of the C-130.