Athens is looking to buy some new C-130Js (ie the latest version of the American transport aircraft) after failing for the second time in months to promote the country’s image abroad. It is recalled that last spring a fix for the maintenance of – theoretically two – available S-130, led the government to seek help from the Royal Canadian Air Force to deliver Greek aid to Ukraine. Only on Wednesday, when it was decided to send the second EMAK team and humanitarian aid for Incirlik, the C-130 tasked with transporting him took off from Thessaloniki but over the Aegean. his return to Elefsina was deemed necessary because of the instructions. A new built C-130J costs between 100 (commercial price) and 115 million euros (under the FMS program), and even if the order is placed today, it cannot be delivered before 2.5-3 years.

The question is why the transport fleet Armed forceswhich in time of war must perform the most important task, and in peacetime is an instrument for projecting soft power, has reached this point.

It goes without saying that its employees air force having worked on the C-130 for many years, has gone above and beyond to fill in the maintenance gaps. Obviously, this is not enough, since a particular aircraft must undergo its standard maintenance, and in most cases the aircraft also has a design problem. OUR “K” conducted an extensive investigation. on the status of the S-130, published last May, on the history of the problem.

A new built C-130J costs between 100 and 115 million euros, and even if the order is placed today, it cannot be delivered before 2.5-3 years.

Structural problems

Already in the 90s, talk began about electronics (which is now completely outdated), and during the decade between 2000 and 2010, the S-130 PA. Structural problems began to show up, mostly related to the wing box, the part that connects the fuselage to the wings. Theoretically, then, as now, the responsibility for maintenance lies with the ODA. After the bankruptcy of 2010 and the placement of the country under memorandum supervision, the aircraft began to be stored one by one in the EAB warehouses in Tanagra. Some needed modernization, others in the standard six-year service. At some point, the work was stopped as the ODA was collecting money from PA to buy parts, but this money went to pay off other obligations. As a result, over the years, some of the C-130s have been exposed to the elements, with all the ensuing consequences for their ability to return to airworthiness.

Various solutions have been worked out in previous months, such as maintaining one in Portugal under the NATO program, transferring three to Israel (costing about 60 million euros, not counting whether there will be more problems when the maintenance process begins, such as, for example, the need to replace the caisson wings). And, of course, with the additional problem that for the S-130 P.A. (type B and H), the production line is stopped all over the world.