[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Air Force Power Playing a Key Role in Promise

Operation Name ‘Promise’

Our government mobilized virtually all available means to support the safe evacuation of overseas Koreans. The main forces in Operation Promise were the C-130J ‘Super Hercules’ transport aircraft and the Air Force’s multi-purpose aerial refueling aircraft KC-330 Cygnus, known as the ‘Sky Gas Station.’ The C-130J and KC-330 also carried out the ‘Miracle Operation’ in August 2021, rescuing about 390 Afghan special contributors and their families when Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, fell to the Taliban.

C-130J ‘Super Hercules’ Transport Aircraft

A330 MRTT, a modified version of the European Airbus A330-200 [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 25th, the first aircraft dispatched to the site was the C-130J transport plane. Onboard were the 707th Special Mission Unit, known as the ‘special forces among special forces,’ and the Air Force’s elite special operators, Combat Control Teams (CCT).

The C-130J dispatched this time is an upgraded model of the C-130 transport aircraft, which has been in use since the 1950s. Our military signed a contract to introduce the C-130J in October 2010 and received four units starting in 2014.

Since then, the C-130J has been deployed not only for Air Force operations but also for civilian evacuation. It performed emergency relief airlift missions during the 2018 Laos dam collapse and the Indonesian earthquake. It also responded when South Korean nationals were stranded in Saipan due to Typhoon Wipha in the same year.

C-130J Transport Aircraft - Can carry over 60 paratroopers and equipped with defensive capabilities; KC-330 Cygnus - Significantly extends operation time and takes charge of civilian escort missions

The C-130J’s maximum speed is 583 km/h, with dimensions of 29.3 m in length, 39.7 m in wingspan, and 11.4 m in height. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 69,750 kg and a maximum payload of 21,151 kg. The C-130J crew consists of three members (two pilots and one loadmaster), and it can carry 92 regular soldiers or 64 paratroopers. The C-130J is also included as a candidate in the military’s ongoing second large transport aircraft project (three units, 710 billion KRW).

The C-130J transport aircraft is equipped with missile warning systems and missile countermeasure systems such as chaff and flare dispensers, allowing it to be deployed in conflict zones with defensive capabilities. However, its maximum range of about 5,250 km is relatively short, requiring mid-air refueling for distances beyond Southeast Asia. This is why the KC-330 was deployed in Operation Promise.

The KC-330’s nickname is Cygnus. The name Cygnus, meaning ‘swan constellation,’ was chosen through a public contest because the image of the aerial refueling aircraft supplying fuel to trailing fighter jets resembles a flock of swans flying together. The Republic of Korea Air Force commissioned it in January 2019 and currently operates four units.

Based on the Airbus A330-200 modified into the A330 MRTT, it can carry about 111 tons of fuel. It can refuel up to 15 F-35A fighters, 10 F-15K fighters, and 20 KF-16 fighters. The Air Force can extend mission duration by about one hour per aerial refueling, enabling more effective operations throughout the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ). Previously, the F-15K could only operate for about 30 minutes near Dokdo and about 20 minutes near Ieodo, while the KF-16 could operate for about 10 minutes near Dokdo and about 5 minutes near Ieodo. After the KC-330 was commissioned, operation times have increased dramatically.

The KC-330’s greatest feature is its fuel capacity. It can carry 111 tons of fuel along with 46 tons of cargo or 380 personnel simultaneously. When used as a medical evacuation aircraft, it can carry 130 beds and perform medical functions concurrently.

The KC-330 is used by 30 countries, including the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.