pogo.org C-130J Flunks Testing 1/24/2005 Project On Government Oversight

Contact: Eric Miller or Beth Daley a or (202) 347-1122 or email beth@pogo.org

The C-130J cargo aircraft essentially flunked its initial evaluation by the Pentagon’s top independent tester, Tom Christie, Director of Operational Test and Evaluation.

Christie’s new report dubs the C-130J as “neither operationally effective nor operationally suitable,” and notes that the Air Force intends to deploy the aircraft despite “limited capabilities” to the Central Command early this year, before it completes the second phase of operational testing. A copy of the report can be viewed at http://www.pogo.org/m/dp/dp-2004-C130J.pdf .

Christie’s report was released just after the Pentagon leaked a proposal that it intends to terminate the C-130J cargo aircraft program. The C-130 Hercules has become a legend in military transport. However, the program to develop the C-130J, an aircraft that is “70 percent” different than previous models, has been characterized by inefficiency, waste, and a misguided acquisition strategy that doubled its original cost. In fact, none of the 50 or so aircraft already acquired by the Air Force had been certified as combat ready, according to a highly critical audit last summer by the Department of Defense Inspector General.

Though the cost-cutting measure is a good idea, in upcoming months, the Secretary of Defense appears headed for a dogfight with several members of Congress who are acting on behalf of defense contractors and in their own political self interest, rather than looking out for the taxpayers and the nation’s fighting men and women. Earlier this month, 24

U.S.

Senators sent a letter to President Bush asking that he not allow the C-130J program to be eliminated (see http://pogoblog.typepad.com/pogo/2005/01/question_when_i.html).

The Senators’ letter disingenuously touts the merits of the original legendary C-130, not the “J” model. But Christie’s report said the C-130J “has more than 70 percent new equipment, relative to previous C-130 models,” and some have even said the C-130J should even have a new name of its own because it is so different than the original C-130.

Among the criticisms contained in Christie’s report:

Problems confronting the C-130J include “funding of logistics support and training systems; hardware, software and technical order deficiencies; manufacturing quality; subsystem reliability; failure to meet required measures of system effectiveness; and resolution of documented deficiencies."Major aircrew workload issues remaining include cargo loading and constraint requirements.
The aircraft’s defensive systems have yet to demonstrate that they will work properly and the aircraft’s airdrop mission has yet to be evaluated by Christie’s office.
Issues still confronting the weather reconnaissance version of the aircraft include radar performance in hurricane reconnaissance missions, propeller anti-ice protective cover peeling, and excessive vibration.

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	January 24, 2005 C-130J Flunks Testing