The first Harvest HAWK KC-130J Hercules for the US Marine Corps completed Phase One testing at NAS Patuxent River on April 10.
The KC-130J is fitted with a modular roll-on, roll-off weapons system comprising a fire control console in the aircraft’s cargo compartment, a turreted target sight sensor (TSS) mounted in the left under wing fuel tank, and a launcher for four Hellfire missiles mounted on the left hand refuelling pylon. Future planned enhancements include the Standoff Precision Guided Munition (SOPGM), and a 30mm cannon which will be mounted in the left side troop door.
Further testing will be conducted over US west coast ranges before the aircraft’s first scheduled deployment later this year.
