Lockheed delivers Harvest Hawk KC-130J to Marines

BETHESDA, Md., June 18 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin has delivered to the U.S. Marines a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft modified for use as a gunship.

The tanker aircraft was modified under the Harvest HAWK, or Hercules Airborne Weapons Kit, program. It was the 10th and final aircraft ordered, the company said.

Harvest HAWK is an armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platform, featuring a quad-mount AGM-119 Hellfire missile launcher, a Target Sight Sensor, a dual AGM-175 Griffin missile launcher, and a roll-on/roll-off fire control console carried in its cargo compartment.

Under a 2012 contract, Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works modified seven aircraft and delivered three mission kits.

Although the Super Hercules has been configured for use as a weapons platform the aircraft also retains its original refueling and transportation capabilities.

The KC-130J, with internal and external tanks, has a 57,500-pound airborne fuel offload capacity and can refuel helicopters as well as fixed-wing aircraft.

Additional details on the Harvest Hawk configuration were not provided.