Taiwan plans to purchase 10 Lockheed Martin C-130J transport aircraft from the United States (US) rather than carry out an extensive upgrade of its existing C-130H fleet, according to CNA.
On February 9, 2026, citing Taiwan’s Republic of China Air Force, CNA reported that an upgrade of the C-130Hs names ‘Taimushan No. 3’ had been shelved due to the costs involved in the project.
It was decided that purchasing 10 new Lockheed Martin C-130J and operating a mixed fleet was the better option.
According to CNA, the planned C-130H upgrade had included integrating the cockpit interface and collision avoidance systems. The Republic of China Air Force also said that airframes needed reinforcement.
The acquisition plan comes as Taiwan faces increasing threats from China resulting in a requirement to continue building a resilient and capable military force.
On February 8, 2026, alone Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said around seven People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) were detected in the waters around Taiwan requiring the Republic of China Air Force to monitor.
During its 70-year history, the C-130 has also been adapted to perform a broad range of missions beyond the original tactical transport role.
More than 2,500 C-130s have been built and deployed in a number of roles including tanker, gunship, firefighter, electronic warfare, maritime patrol and special operations aircraft.
