Editing Lockheed C-130 Hercules (section)

===Upgrades and changes===
[[File:Lockheed L-382 C-130H-LM Hercules (USAF sn 92-1532, cn 382-5328) (8-26-2023).jpg|thumb|C-130H with eight-bladed NP2000 propellers]]
In 2000, Boeing was awarded a {{US$|1.4 billion}} contract to develop an Avionics Modernization Program kit for the C-130. The program was beset with delays and cost overruns until project restructuring in 2007.<ref name="fg_c130amp">Trimble, Stephen. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/06/24/343673/boeing-outlines-c-130h-and-kc-10-cockpit-upgrades.html "Boeing outlines C-130H and KC-10 cockpit upgrades"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628162446/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/06/24/343673/boeing-outlines-c-130h-and-kc-10-cockpit-upgrades.html |date=28 June 2010}} ''[[Flightglobal]].'' Retrieved: 2 October 2010.</ref> In September 2009, it was reported that the planned Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) upgrade to the older C-130s would be dropped to provide more funds for the F-35, CV-22 and airborne tanker replacement programs.<ref>Capaccio, Tony. [https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aEiJr36oaC7w "Air Force Would Cancel Boeing C-130 Upgrade, 15 Other Programs"]. ''Bloomberg'', 2 September 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2010.</ref> However, in June 2010, [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] approved funding for the initial production of the AMP upgrade kits.<ref>Wall, Robert. [http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/asd/2010/06/25/01.xml&headline=Pentagon%20Approves%20C-130%20AMP%20Production&channel=defense "Pentagon Approves C-130 AMP Production"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921171443/http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news%2Fasd%2F2010%2F06%2F25%2F01.xml&headline=Pentagon%20Approves%20C-130%20AMP%20Production&channel=defense |date=21 September 2011}} ''Aviation Week'', 25 June 2010.</ref><ref>[http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1275 "Boeing C-130 Avionics Modernization Program to Enter Production"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007213747/http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1275 |date=7 October 2011}} Boeing, 24 June 2010.</ref> Under the terms of this agreement, the USAF has cleared Boeing to begin [[Low rate initial production|low-rate initial production]] (LRIP) for the C-130 AMP. A total of 198 aircraft are expected to feature the AMP upgrade. The current cost per aircraft is {{US$|14 million}}, although Boeing expects that this price will drop to US$7&nbsp;million for the 69th aircraft.<ref name="fg_c130amp"/>

In the 2000s, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force began outfitting and retrofitting C-130s with the eight-blade [[UTC Aerospace Systems]] NP2000 propellers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/115079/engineers-testing-eight-blade-prop-for-c-130/|title=AF.MIL|work=U.S. Air Force |date=4 November 2010 |access-date=11 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818115316/http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/115079/engineers-testing-eight-blade-prop-for-c-130.aspx|archive-date=18 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> An engine enhancement program saving fuel and providing lower temperatures in the T56 engine has been approved, and the US Air Force expects to save $2&nbsp;billion (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=2000000000|start_year=2013}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) and extend the fleet life.<ref>"[http://www.aero-news.net/subscribe.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=95b16316-e19c-47eb-8ba7-0048908e816f NOAA 'Hurricane Hunters' First To Get T56 Series 3.5 Engine Enhancement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203131427/http://www.aero-news.net/subscribe.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=95b16316-e19c-47eb-8ba7-0048908e816f |date=3 December 2013}}" ''Aero News'', 14 November 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2013.</ref>

In 2021, the Air Force Research Laboratory demonstrated the [[Rapid Dragon]] system which transforms the C-130 into a lethal strike platform capable of launching 12 [[AGM-158 JASSM|JASSM-ER]] with 500&nbsp;kg warheads from a standoff distance of {{cvt|925|km|mi}}. Future anticipated improvements support includes support for [[Joint Direct Attack Munition#JDAM Extended Range|JDAM-ER]], mine laying, drone dispersal as well as improved standoff range when {{cvt|1900|km|mi}} JASSM-XR become available in 2024.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=December 16, 2021 |title=Rapid Dragon's first live fire test of a Palletized Weapon System deployed from a cargo aircraft destroys target |magazine=Air Force Material Command |ref={{SfnRef|Air Force Material Command release|2021}} |publisher=Air Force Research Laboratory Public Affairs |url= https://www.afmc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2879257/rapid-dragons-first-live-fire-test-of-a-palletized-weapon-system-deployed-from/|access-date=2022-07-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Host |first1=Pat |date=October 1, 2021 |title=US AFRL plans Rapid Dragon palletized munitions experiments with additional weapons |work=Janes|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-afrl-plans-rapid-dragon-palletised-munitions-experiments-with-additional-weapons |access-date=2022-07-23}}</ref>