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Mexico became the 25th country to order the Lockheed Martin C-130J airlifter, the U.S. company said on Jan. 21.
The Mexican air force ordered a stretched C-130J-30, offering a 15-ft. longer cargo bay than the baseline version, Lockheed says.
“This historic decision by Mexico reflects the continued trust placed in the C-130J Super Hercules by operators around the world,” said Trish Pagan, vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Air Mobility & Maritime Missions.
Mexico selected the C-130J-30 despite the option of ordering a Brazilian-made Embraer C-390 airlifter. The Mexican air force already operates a small fleet of three aging C-130 transports.
The Mexican order was one of two new sales that Lockheed confirmed in late December. The identity of the second new order has not been revealed.
Lockheed says the order reflects rising interest in multirole airlift capabilities in Latin America.
The U.S. aircraft order also comes as Latin American governments have voiced concerns about recent moves by the Trump administration, including the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in early January during a special forces operation that killed dozens of local and Cuban security forces.
An unannounced C-130J flight into Mexico by the U.S. Navy on Jan. 18 caused a brief domestic uproar until the government clarified that the flight was authorized and not part of a U.S. invasion.
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