LONDON–The U.S. Air Force has donated C-130 Hercules airlifters to Jordan and Niger to help boost their airlift capabilities. 

Three C-130Hs are being handed to the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF), the U.S. Embassy in Amman announced on Dec. 9. 

Two of the aircraft were handed over in a ceremony held on the same day, having arrived in September, while a third will arrive in January. 

Niger received the second of a planned transfer of three C-130Hs on Dec. 7, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa (USAFE/AFAFRICA) announced. The first former U.S. Air Force Nigerien C-130H was delivered in January. 

The delivery of C-130Hs to Jordan bolsters the country’s airlift capability by 50%, embassy officials said, and has saved the RJAF around $30 million in equipment renovation costs. 

“This donation of advanced aircraft represents the commitment of the United States to build strong capabilities of our Jordanian partners to respond immediately to any situation, whether it is a natural disaster, humanitarian crisis, or operational mission,” U.S. ambassador Henry Wooster said. 

The transfer of the aircraft to the RJAF is part of a U.S. congressional mandate to cap the size of the USAF C-130 fleet.  

The U.S. Air Force created what it calls the C-130 Ramp-to-Ramp (R2R) transfer program to give fully active and functional assets to key security partners around the world.   

The program delivered its first aircraft in April 2021, and to date has delivered eight of a projected 30 aircraft globally.  

Niger’s C-130 delivery is part of a partnering program with the Niger Air Force to revitalize the country’s C-130 fleet. Nigerien pilots and ground crews were trained in the U.S. and the U.S. Air Force has also refurbished a maintenance hangar and is providing funding for a second hangar and aviation parts warehouse. 

“Niger has built a defense framework committed to amplifying regional security and stability throughout the Sahel,” said U.S. Air Force Gen. James Kriesel, the National Guard assistant to the USAFE/AFAFRICA.