The C-130 Hercules has a short capability to take of and land, even without a paved runway.
The airplane is in many versions. The standard version is to transport troops and cargo and can fly in war environments. There is also a version for electronic warfare; EC-130, an air-to-ground attack version; AC-130 and lots of other versions. The first normal (transport) version was the C-130A. The newest transport version is the C-130J SUper Hercules which can transport 128 airborne troops. The newest version is the C-130U and only in service with the USAF.

C-130 Versions

LC-130 Hercules

WC-130J Hercules

Operators
The C-130 is in service with the militaries of at least:

1. United States
2. United-Kingdom
3. the Netherlands
4. Belgium
5. Italy
6. Greece
7. Spain
8. Sweden
9. Canada
10. Israel
11. New-Zealand
12. Oman
13. Indonesia

1. United States
The C-130 is now a day in service with the US Air Force, Air National Guard, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. The first of the 229 ordered C-130A Hercules aircraft for the USAF made his first flight on 7 april 1955.

C-130

C-130J

2. United-Kingdom
Years ago the Royal Air Force has ordered 25 airplanes (ten C-130J versions and 15 C-130J-30).

On 30 January 2005 on 15:30 local time a C-130 Hercules crashed 40km of Baghdad. In the aircraft were possible 10 soldiers of the British special forces unit SAS. It's not yet sure the airplane is crashed or had a bomb into the aircraft. Terrorists claim to have shot down the aircraft with a anti-aircraft missile but military experts says that the airplane flow on 5000 meters height and can't be shot down.

3. the Netherlands
Since, March 1 1994, the RNLAF operates a fleet of 2 C-130-H30 airplanes which are used for transport of cargo and troops and for humanitary support.
On the 2nd of March 2010 the first of 2 C-130H Hercules was delivered to the RNLF.

The aircraft are stationed on Eindhoven Air Force Base with the 336 squadron (from 1994-2007; 334 squadron). The Royal Netherlands Air Force has bought 3 more C-130H Hercules aircraft from Marshall Aerospace of which 2 will also become part of the 336 Hercules squadron. The 3rd hercules is only used for spare parts.

C-130H-30

C-130H

4. Belgium
Years ago the Belgian air force ordered 12 C-130H airplanes. Now there are still 11 operational. One C-130H crashed on Eindhoven Air Force base in the Netherlands while transporting a military band.

5. Italy
The Italian Air Force has a fleet of 22 C-130J/ C-130J-30 Hercules aircraft.

Italian Air Force C-130J


6. Greece
The Greece Hellenic Air Force has C-130 H/B Hercules aircraft.

7. Spain
Spain Air Force has 6 C-130H, 1 C-130H-30 and 5 KC-130H. The 6 C-130H and the C-130H-30 are with the 311 squadron, the 5 KC-130H with the 312 squadron which are both stationed on a airbase near Zaragoza.

8. Sweden
The Swedish Air Force has a fleet of 8 C-130 Hercules aircraft (Tp 84). These will be updated with the Boeing Avionics Modernization Program (AMP). The Swedish were the first European export customer for the Hercules and will now the first equipped with the AMP.
The update contains a fully integrated digital glass cockpit with head-up displays.
The Swedish Air Force has 1 C-130H aircraft converted to a tanker to train Saab Gripen fighters for aerial refueling.

9. Canada
Canada has bought 27 CC-130E/H Hercules aircraft in the beginning.

10. Israel
The Israeli Air Force has the C-130E, C-130H and KC-130 Hercules.
C-130H


11. New-Zealand
C-130 Hercules from New-Zealand


12. Oman
In June 2009, Oman ordered 1 C-130J-30 Super Hercules which will be delivered in mid-2012. Oman already operates a fleet of 3 C-130H Hercules.

13. Indonesia