The Indian government is poised to exercise an option to double the size of its fleet of C-130J tactical transports while recognizing that its operational requirement will require an even larger force. With delivery of the first of six Lockheed Martin C-130 J-30s due to begin soon, the prospect of additional buys is strengthening. "We definitely need more than six airplanes," says an Indian air force officer. The service has already passed that message along to the defense ministry. The options for more aircraft were included in the original March 2008 agreement and, the service official says, "we are building up to operate more than six aircraft."
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