TSAMTO, August 13. The Command of the Colombian Air Force has accepted the last two of the three BTA C-130H Hercules aircraft purchased from the US Air Force as part of the Surplus Military Equipment (EDA) program.
As reported by Infodefensa.com, two C-130H (b. n. FAC 1017 and 1018) are currently stationed in Bogota at the location of the Military Transport Aviation Command (CATAM) until they are transferred to the Colombian Air Force Service Command (Comando Aereo de Mantenimiento – CAMAN), where they will undergo maintenance. The work will also be carried out by the CIAC Corporation (Corporacion de la Industria Aeronautica de Colombia). The aircraft are equipped with a system for shooting infrared traps and dipole reflectors.
As reported by TSAMTO, the first information about the interest of the Colombian Air Force in the supply of three C-130H Hercules aircraft and related equipment from the US Air Force under the "Excess Military Equipment" program appeared in mid-2017.
Initially, the US leadership granted permission for the transfer of one aircraft. Its full value was estimated at $ 30 million, but the residual price was $ 12 million.
According to media reports, following negotiations in May 2019, it was decided to transfer two additional C-130H at a final price of $ 24 million.
The first aircraft (FAC 1016) arrived in Colombia in September 2020.
The requested aircraft are intended to replace three obsolete C-130BS in service, of which only one is suitable for operation. They will replenish the fleet of four C-130H available in the Colombian Air Force. Some of the existing aircraft were upgraded by the Service Command of the Colombian Air Force and the Colombian Aviation Industry Corporation CIAC with the replacement of analog devices with digital ones and equipped with the MAFFS II (Modular Airborne Firefighting System) fire extinguishing system.
Currently, the Colombian Air Force has five C-130 aircraft in service, including one C-130B (FAC 1001) and four C-130H (FAC 1004, 1005, 1015 and 1016).