Maj. Gen. Michael Snodgrass, chief of staff, U.S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany, today accepted the seventh of 14 Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] C-130Js to be based at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The USAF Europe C-130Js based at Ramstein also support the airlift needs of Africa Command.

“It is an honor for me to be in Marietta to pick up the seventh C-130J going to Ramstein. It represents the cumulative efforts of teams of people here in Marietta, the United States Air Force, the Pentagon and the folks at Ramstein who are supporting our missions around the globe,” Snodgrass said. “There is no other airplane that has done more throughout its history, consistently over its lifespan to help other people when they need help than the C-130. The C‑130 has been and will continue to be the workhorse of our fleet.”

“With our ramp-up in build and delivery rates, the C-130J Super Hercules is increasingly delivering proven airlift solutions to air forces worldwide,” said Julie Whitehead, Lockheed Martin director, USAF C-130J programs. “With every mission flown, more countries can attest to the fact that the C-130J sets the standard for flexible, versatile and affordable airlift.”

The delivery of this most recent Ramstein C-130J marks the half-way point for the base’s total C-130J deliveries. Ten C-130Js will be delivered to Ramstein this year, with four more scheduled for delivery in 2010. These 14 new Js will support the Ramstein-based 37th Airlift Squadron that has been flying C-130Es. The new aircraft are the longer C-130J-30 configuration, which is now the standard for recapitalizing the USAF and many other air forces around the world.

C-130Js are engaged in high-tempo operations in multiple combat theaters and are routinely deployed in support of both peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. The C-130J is a proven airlifter that has been selected by 11 nations, with 181 aircraft delivered through the third quarter of this year. The C-130J is a flexible, multimission aircraft that has been delivered in multiple and varied configurations to meet a wide range of operational needs.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

Source: Lockheed Martin