Lockheed Martin announced Thursday that Israel intends to acquire two additional C-130J transports, increasing the nation’s order so far to three. “We are providing Israel with the most flexible and capable airlifter in the world as that country continues to expand its advanced airlift fleet,” said Jim Grant, Lockheed’s vice president of business development for air mobility. The Defense Department announced in July 2008 the proposed foreign military sale of up to nine C-130Js to Israel. The Israelis ordered one C-130J in April 2010; Lockheed says it will deliver that aircraft in spring 2013. The company will provide the next two aircraft in late 2013 and late 2014, respectively. Israel’s C-130Js are the longer “stretched” variant.
The Air Force overall reduced its size by 120 aircraft in fiscal year 2021, but kept about the same number of fighter, bomber and attack aircraft, according to data supplied by the service. The F-35 fleet saw the biggest increase while the B-1B bomber fleet saw the largest decline.