French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has reportedly given the green light for Paris's acquisition of four Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules transports to plug a capability shortfall caused by the Airbus Defence & Space A400M's inability to provide in-flight refuelling for helicopters.
Following an authorisation from the US state department in November 2015 to proceed with the sale, news agency Reuters quotes Le Drian, speaking during a visit to French forces stationed in Jordan, as confirming the deal will go ahead. French aircraft are deployed in the Middle Eastern nation as part of Opération Chammal, its fight against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
A notice published by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency in November noted Paris had requested two C-130Js and two extended-range KC-130J tankers, a spare set of four Rolls-Royce AE 2100D turboprop engines and mission equipment worth $355 million.
France also hopes to arm the type with the Lockheed AGM-114K1A Hellfire air-to-surface missile used aboard its Airbus Helicopters Tiger attack rotorcraft.
