Pentagon awards Lockheed $969 million contract to build 17 C-130J aircraft

Lockheed Martin Corp got the $969 million deal from Pentagon to build 17 C-130 J military transport planes.

Pentagon announced awarding the contract to Lockheed on Tuesday. The work is expected to be finished by April 2020, according to the Department of Defense. Reuters reported that Lockheed said last month that it got an agreement from the US Air Force to build a total of 130 C-130 J Super Hercules transport aircrafts for the Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Air Force within five years. Lockheed already sold C-130 Js to 16 countries. 330 of the planes were delivered and others are still on order.

These aircrafts have the capability to land on austere makeshift runway landing zones. These planes are typically used for humanitarian relief operations, aerial refueling, search and rescue, and air support.

Meanwhile, UPI reported that Lockheed has recently completed the security upgrades needed for the Global Position System of the US Air Force. It safeguards data and keeps satellite available. The new technology now has the GPD Intrusion Protection Reinforcement, which helps boost cyber security and keeps sensitive civilian and military data safe. The upgrade is a strategy to modernize the US Air Force's system.

Just last October, Lockheed also won a contract to build long-range Discrimination Radar for the US Missile Defense Agency, which is worth $784 million. According to the Business Insider, it is said to improve the homeland defense capabilities of the US Military. Lockheed is considered as Pentagon's number one supplier. It beat Raytheon Co and Northrop Grumman Corp from the bid to get the contract. According to US officials, the radar will be stationed in Alaska. It will help detect and respond to possible North Korean missile launches.

For the 17 C-130 planes, the contractor will provide it in the configuration of six C-130J-30, nine MC-130J, One HC-130J, and one KC-130J aircrafts. These planes will be built at Marietta, Georgia.