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≈$5.93B Air Force DEFINITIVE CONTRACT FA862514C6450

C-130J Super Hercules transport, advance procurement: ~$5.93B — the Air Force's award to Lockheed Martin (USAspending)

Department of the Air Force ・2013-12-09 〜 2020-07-31

Per USAspending, the U.S. Air Force awarded the advance procurement of the "C-130J" transport (for FY14) to Lockheed Martin. The value is about $5.93 billion ($5,934,097,112), a definitive contract running December 2013–July 2020. It supports procurement of the latest version of the C-130, the tactical-transport staple used for over half a century.

Contract key facts

  • RecipientLockheed Martin
  • Contract value$5,934,097,112 (≈$5.93B)
  • BranchAir Force
  • Awarding agencyDepartment of Defense
  • Awarding sub-agencyDepartment of the Air Force
  • Award typeDEFINITIVE CONTRACT
  • Period of performance2013-12-09 〜 2020-07-31
  • Contract ID (PIID)FA862514C6450

Contract scope (original)

FY13 ADVANCE PROCUREMENT FUNDS FOR FY14 C-130J AIRCRAFT

Key points

  • The Air Force awarded advance procurement of the C-130J (for FY14) to Lockheed Martin. Cumulative ~$5.93B ($5,934,097,112).
  • Definitive contract, performance December 9, 2013 – July 31, 2020.
  • The C-130J is the latest generation (Super Hercules) of the C-130 tactical transport used since the 1950s.
  • "Advance procurement" — securing next year's material/work ahead of the main budget.
  • Ruggedness to bring personnel, supplies, and vehicles to short-runway bases underpins military logistics.
  • Among the 207 Department of Defense contracts held as of 2026-09-01, December leads start months at 31 while September holds only 19.

1The C-130 across half a century

The C-130 Hercules has been a staple tactical transport used worldwide for over half a century since its 1950s debut. With ruggedness and versatility that let it bring personnel, supplies, and vehicles even to front-line bases with short runways, it has quietly but reliably supported military logistics. Its latest generation is the "C-130J Super Hercules," with renewed engines and avionics.

2Advance procurement of FY14 C-130Js

This contract covers the "advance procurement" of that C-130J (for FY14). Advance procurement secures, ahead of the main production budget, some of the material and work needed the following year — a concept close to the "long-lead material" covered on this site. To keep production seamless, preparation is advanced across budget years — a practice common to multi-year equipment procurement.

3What the public record covers

The description (USAspending) goes as far as "advance procurement of the FY14 C-130J" and does not detail airframe counts (this site does not fill in what the description omits). A cumulative ~$5.93B shows that vast sums are continuously invested in a transport aircraft that, unglamorous as it is, underpins the military at its foundation.

4When do these contracts begin

Advance procurement is a device for running preparation ahead across fiscal years. So when in the year do the contracts themselves begin? Sorting the 207 Department of Defense contracts this site holds as of 2026-09-01 by start month gives the following.

December31 / 207
June26 / 207
August23 / 207
September19 / 207
October14 / 207
January9 / 207

December leads at 31, while September, when the fiscal year closes, holds 19 and October, when the new one opens, holds 14. In the federal spending records this site holds as of 2026-09-01, contract starts spike sharply in September; that shape does not appear in large defence contracts. Start dates read as set by how an equipment program advances rather than by spending out an appropriation at year end.

The C-130 Hercules has been in use for more than half a century since the 1950s, and the C-130J is its latest generation.

Why it matters

Unglamorous as it is, the transport aircraft is indispensable equipment underpinning military logistics, and the C-130 has been its staple for over half a century. Advance procurement is a practice for keeping production seamless in multi-year procurement. As continued investment in an "unseen but important" layer of equipment, it helps grasp the full picture of defense spending. Useful to readers tracking the defense industry and security.

FAQ

What data is this?
A single Department of Defense (DoD) federal procurement contract recorded in "USAspending," the U.S. open government-spending dataset. The recipient, awarding component, value, and scope are public. This site is not an official U.S. government website.
Is the amount final?
It is a cumulative figure as of collection. Large defense contracts accumulate modifications over many years, so amounts change. The latest figure is available at the source, USAspending.
What is advance procurement?
Securing, ahead of the main production budget, some of the material and work needed the following year. To keep production seamless, preparation is advanced across budget years — a concept close to "long-lead material."

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Sources (primary)

This article is an independent organization based on the U.S. official spending data below. Verify the exact, latest details with the official source.

#Defense#Department of Defense#Air Force#Transport aircraft#C-130J#Hercules#Logistics#Lockheed Martin

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