All you want to know about IAF’s C130J Super Hercules

New Delhi: On Friday, Indian Air Force was dealt with a massive blow when one of its state-of-the-art aircraft C130J Super Hercules crashed near Gwalior killing all 5 Air Force personnel on board. The aircraft was recently inducted into the IAF in January 2011, after India brought six transport aircraft from US at the cost of USD 950 million. The contract was signed in 2008 with American aviation giant Lockheed Martin. IAF raised a new squadron called 77 Squadron. The new squadron will be nicknamed as Veiled Vipers with the motto "Strike To Kill". The aircraft was brought for the purpose of transporting Special Forces and Border Security Forces. The transport aircraft is designed to increase the reach of the IAF. The aircraft can transport, supplies to remote bases, deploy troops in far-off regions and help in evacuation as well. The aircraft was effectively used by IAF to transport fuels for smaller aircraft during the rescue and evacuation operations in Uttarakhand flood, last year. Last year, India gave a befitting reply to China's intrusions inside its territory, when it landed the giant aircraft in one of the world's highest airstrip in DBO. The aircraft is one of the most advanced transport aircraft in the world. It can climb to a height of 28,000 feet in merely 14 minutes. In the words of Lockheed Martin, the firm responsible for manufacturing this gigantic aircraft- "There is no aircraft in aviation history — either developed or under development — that can match the flexibility, versatility and relevance of the C-130 Hercules. In continuous production longer than any other military aircraft, the C-130 has earned a reputation as a workhorse ready for any mission, anywhere, anytime." It can carry 92 people along with four other crew members. It can land and take-off from an airstrip 2,000 foot-long, without lights. It is able to transport more than 40,000 pounds of cargo and supplies. Presently the aircraft is being operated by air forces of more than 70 countries.

IAF C 130J-30 Super Hercules makes a historic landing at Daulat Beg Oldi in Ladakh on Tuesday.

Defence Minister AK Antony alights from a Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.

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C-130J co-pilot's head-up display (HUD)

The C-130J Super Hercules Special Operations transport aircraft today crashed near Gwalior after taking off from Agra air base.