In an effort to modernize and strengthen its airlift capabilities, the Taiwanese Air Force has announced the launch of an ambitious program to upgrade its fleet of Hercules C-130H transport aircraft. Known as “Taiwu Mountain III,” this initiative aims to update the aircraft that have been in service with the force since the 1980s and require the renewal of various equipment and components.
Through a tender published on December 25, the Republic of China (R.O.C.) Defense Mission in the United States seeks to procure new propellers for these aircraft as part of a broader initiative that will extend until 2030, with an estimated cost of USD 3.85 million. The modernization will focus on enhancing the operational capabilities of the C-130Hs, including collision avoidance systems, navigation systems, and Search and Rescue (SAR) systems, ensuring that these aircraft remain a key asset in the logistical and support chain of the Taiwanese Armed Forces. The program also includes the acquisition of new flight simulators for crew training.
With an estimated budget of over 10 billion New Taiwan dollars, the project underscores Taipei’s priority of maintaining an advanced and capable transport fleet amid growing regional tensions. The contract for the tender will be awarded on January 8, 2025, and is expected to be executed by December 2025, according to information from Taiwan’s Government Electronic Procurement System.
The Taiwanese Air Force acquired a total of 20 C-130Hs and one C-130HE, a modified electronic warfare aircraft, from the United States in the early 1980s. The first batch of 12 C-130Hs entered service in Taiwan in 1986. However, one C-130H, serial number 1310, was lost in an accident at Taipei’s Songshan Airport in 1997. The Air Force’s current C-130 fleet includes a total of 20 of these models, which serve as the primary transport aircraft for the local Armed Forces.
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