Romania buys C-130H

The Romanian state has bought a second hand Italian C-130H. Presently the aircraft is being refurbished and a part of its equipment is going to be upgraded in the US. It will then join the Strategic Air Transport Squadron at the 90th Air Base at Otopeni. Several other C-130s will be bought in the near future.

Does anyone know the real story behind the first 4 C-130s received as 'gift' from the USA (nothing is for free, as you may know )? What were the strings attached to this deal?

I know that these airplanes (all early models, IIRC) were first offered to Hungary, but she refused the offer. Then, the airplanes were passed on to Rumania.

Interestingly, Hungary just bought a used AN-26 from Ukraine to supplement the limited airlifting capacity of the Honvédség.

Denes, the same way you know that the 4 C-130 were "free", the same way I knew that from the beginning we paid real cash for them.
This is a good chance to clarify what happened.

From an Air Force mate of mine who's a C-130 pilot in Israel and who participated along with Roumanian AF C-130 Pilots on a joint operation mission last August in Transylvania...he was told that the Roumanians C-130's and the spares support for the aircarfts were received through FMS Sales ( Foreign Military Sales Programm) and not at all as a gift , Roumanian Government had to agree on various US-Roumanian programms in order to obtain them. Nothing is for free nowadays especially when it comes from the US where the old slogan applies " Money talks bullshit walks " and neither Roumanian participation in Afghanistan / Iraq was sealed by the Roumanian Government without reasonable pay off chances in due course of their involvement overthere.

The photo bellow was taken last August by a IAF C-130 pilot flying by over Transilvania on the joint ops mission with Roumanian Air Force. IAF has also dispatched for the same purpose various CH-53 Helicopters to Roumania.

Alex

This post has been edited by alexkdl on December 14, 2004 12:19 am

Attached Image

Could someone explain to me why does Romania need so many heavy transport planes in the first place?

In order to quickly deploy the a quick reaction force were it is needed. Btw, I would not rate the C-130 as heavy transport. More of a medium transport.

It is simple - we participate in international operations, and we need to have planes to transport things to our soldiers, and our soldiers to be passengers. Plus some image things - inteoperability, etc.

Iama

It's more like what NATO wants from us. Hungary received the food suplies, we are stucked with transportation and so one.

Well at least we are capable the support our selfs in International operations.
Not to mention improvment of our transport fleet. Until the C130 where here , we had few AN-26 as military transports (they don't have same capabilities as the C130) and the venerable AN-2(this was , and it is still used by military paras for training).

You know about AN-3? An up-graded AN-2, an AN-2 for this days.

Iama

Are you jocking?
That is noplane for a military use. Neither the An2 is. Military transport plane are special breed.

Romania is suppose purchase new 9 meduim-range Transports, maybe it will be the C-27J Spartan or CASA C-295. Is their anyboby who knows what designs the Romanian AF is considering?

Thank You

This post has been edited by Stephen Dabapuscu on January 06, 2005 08:26 am

Why we need medium range planes? When we have longer range ones Well C130 is not exactly long range , more like medium to long range. I'dd say go for C130 to keep the uniformity and lower the costs.(is more costly to have many different model of planes) .

Tomcat1974,

I don't know if we need them or not. I read several sources including Air Forces monthly which claim that in addition 4 or 5 more C-130's the Romanian AF has a requirement for 9 "new" meduim-range transports. None of the sources that I have read mentioned types that are being considered.

Thank You

The same AFM gave as sure transaction the aquisition of F16 by Romania
Until we see them with romanian color ... nothing is sure