PHOTO CREDIT: FLORIDA FWCC The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last week awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics for two specially equipped C-130J Hercules aircraft. The planes will be NOAA’s next-generation hurricane hunters, replacing the Lockheed WP-3D Orion.
In a statement, NOOA said the C-130J Hercules will be “flying laboratories” to support hurricane forecasting and research, tornado research, atmospheric rivers research and forecasting, and satellite calibration and validation, among other missions. The aircraft will also carry expanded capabilities that include long-endurance coastal mapping, gravity measurements and transport capabilities to support worldwide deployments.
“Adding these highly capable C-130J aircraft to our fleet ensures NOAA can continue to provide the public, decision-makers and researchers with accurate, timely and life-saving information about extreme weather events,” Chad Cary, director of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps and NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations, said in the statement,
Lockheed Martin’s contract includes an option for additional aircraft after the initial two. The C-130Js will be based at the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center in Lakeland, Fla.
