Air Force Aircraft Assigned to Transport Mission for Afghan Nationals

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] As the transfer of Afghans to South Korea takes place, attention is focused on the Air Force C-130J (Super Hercules) performing the transport mission.

Choi Jong-moon, the 2nd Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, explained at a briefing on the 25th, "On August 15, the situation in Kabul rapidly deteriorated, making it impossible for civilian charter flights to operate, so we made a sudden decision to deploy three military transport aircraft."

The aircraft involved in the transport operation are three in total: two Air Force C-130J (Super Hercules) and one multi-purpose aerial refueling transport aircraft KC-330. Among these transport aircraft, the only model capable of evading surface-to-air missiles from Islamic armed groups is the C-130J transport aircraft. The C-130J is equipped with a missile warning system and missile evasion countermeasures such as chaff and flare launch systems.

Because of this, two C-130Js successfully completed round-trip flights on the 24th from Islamabad, Pakistan to Kabul Airport, Afghanistan, evacuating all Afghans. About 380 Afghans boarded the three Air Force transport aircraft at Kabul Airport and are scheduled to arrive in South Korea via Incheon International Airport on the 26th.

Our Air Force has been operating four C-130Js since their introduction in April 2014. South Korea is the 14th country to operate the C-130J.

The C-130J is equipped with more powerful engines (Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 turboprop engines). Additionally, with aerodynamically efficient redesigned composite material propellers, the maximum takeoff weight has increased by about 20,000 pounds, and the range has expanded by approximately 40%.

The electronic warfare system of the C-130J includes radar warning receivers covering from E band to K band. Also, the AN/AAR-47 missile warning device displays missile approach rate, direction, and distance at a glance. It is equipped with a self-defense system that can prevent interception by missiles and disrupt guided missiles.

The C-130J, which can carry about 120 people per aircraft, measures 29.9 meters in length, 40.4 meters in wingspan, and 11.8 meters in height, and can ascend up to 8,700 meters. It has a top speed of 671 km/h and a range of 5,250 km.

The military is considering the C-130J for the Air Force's second large transport aircraft project scheduled to begin in 2022.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.