수송기 싱가포르, 중고 C-130B를 중고 C-130H로 교체

[위종민]

싱가포르 공군은 현재 C-130B 4기와 C-130H 6기를 운용중인데, 이 중 1977년부터 미국과 요르단에서 중고로 도입해 기령 60년에 달하는 C-130B 4기를 중고 C-130H 4기로 교체할 예정이라고 합니다. 스페인 공군이 쓰다가 2020년 12월 퇴역해 미국의 블루 에어로스페이스 소유로 스페인 지역 공항에 보관중이었던 기체이고, 이미 인도가 시작돼 3대가 싱가포르에 도착했네요. 한 대는 공중급유형 KC-130H이고, 한대는 동체연장형 C-130H-30입니다. 

돈이 없는 나라는 아닌데 나라 크기가 작으니 수송기 전력엔 크게 돈을 쓰지 않나 보네요. C-130H는 해외 수송, C-130B는 국내 수송 임무였다고.. 

[행위자–행동–의도 정리]

| 행위자                 | 한 행동                           | 표면적 명분/설명           | 기사에 드러난 효과 또는 의미        |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------ | ------------------- | ----------------------- |
| 싱가포르 공군(RSAF)       | 노후 C-130B 퇴역 및 중고 C-130H 도입 결정 | 작전 요구 충족 및 전력 유지    | 차세대 수송기 도입 약 10년 지연 가능성 |
| 싱가포르 공군참모총장 켈빈 판 소장 | C-130H 도입 사실 확인 및 발언           | 향후 15~20년 운용 적합성 판단 | 기존 기종 유지 전략 공식화         |
| 블루 에어로스페이스          | 중고 C-130H 항공기 소유 및 이전          | 항공기 재판매             | RSAF 전력 갱신에 기여          |
| 스페인 공군              | C-130H 퇴역                      | 원문에 명시 없음           | 중고 항공기 시장 공급            |
| 미 연방항공청(FAA)        | 항공기 등록 유지                      | 항공기 등록 관리           | 항공기 출처 식별               |
| ST 엔지니어링            | C-130B/H 현대화 수행(과거)            | 항전·보호체계 개선          | 기존 전력 성능 향상             |
| 에어버스                | A400M 제안                       | 전술수송기 공급            | 잠재적 차세대 사업 참여           |
| 엠브라에르               | C-390 제안                       | 전술수송기 공급            | 잠재적 차세대 사업 참여           |
| 록히드마틴               | C-130J 제안                      | 전술수송기 공급            | 잠재적 차세대 사업 참여           |

싱가포르는 노후한 록히드마틴 C-130B 전술수송기 4대를 단계적으로 퇴역시키고, 보다 최신의 중고 C-130H 항공기로 대체할 예정이다. 이는 차세대 수송기 도입을 약 10년가량 지연시킬 가능성이 있다.

이 항공기들의 도입과 현재 진행 중인 인도는 싱가포르 에어쇼 2026 기간 중 아시안 밀리터리 리뷰가 참석한 가운데 진행된 서면 언론 인터뷰에서 싱가포르 공군참모총장 켈빈 판 소장이 확인했다.

판 소장은 “철저한 평가를 거친 결과, C-130이 향후 15~20년 동안 우리의 작전 요구를 충족하는 데 가장 적합한 플랫폼이라는 결론에 도달했다”고 밝혔다.

그는 이어 “이에 따라 싱가포르 공군(RSAF)은 노후한 C-130B를 대체하기 위해 사용되었지만 여전히 잘 유지된 C-130H 항공기를 도입하고 있다. 인도는 이미 시작됐으며, 이 항공기들은 RSAF의 요구에 맞게 재정비될 것”이라고 말했다.

최근 몇 주 동안 미 연방항공청(FAA) 등록 번호를 단 C-130H 항공기 3대가 싱가포르 파야 레바르 공군기지에 도착했다. 온라인 확인 결과, 이 항공기들은 미국 기업 블루 에어로스페이스 소유로 나타난다. 동일하게 FAA 등록 상태인 네 번째 C-130H 한 대도 가까운 시일 내에 이전될 것으로 알려졌다.

이들 C-130H 항공기 4대는 2020년 12월 스페인 공군에서 퇴역한 뒤 블루 에어로스페이스가 소유권을 인수했으며, 이후 스페인의 한 지역 공항에 보관돼 왔다.

이 물량에는 공중급유 포드를 장착한 KC-130H 한 대와, 더 큰 화물 적재 능력을 제공하는 연장형 C-130H-30 한 대가 포함돼 있다. 이 두 기체는 각각 두 번째와 세 번째 항공기로서 1월 말 싱가포르로 이전됐다. 특히 싱가포르가 ‘-30’ 파생형을 운용하는 것은 이번이 처음이다.

현재 RSAF는 C-130B 4대와 C-130H 6대로 구성된 총 10대의 C-130을 운용하고 있다. ‘H’ 기체들은 1980년대에 신조로 도입된 반면, C-130B는 1977년부터 미국과 요르단에서 중고로 이전된 기체로, 현재 기령은 약 60년에 달한다.

C-130H 기체들은 싱가포르군의 해외 훈련 지원과 역내 인도적 지원 및 재난 구호 임무에 정기적으로 투입되고 있다. 반면 노후한 C-130B들은 주로 국내 훈련 비행에 한정돼 운용되고 있다.

RSAF의 C-130B/H 전력은 2007년부터 2014년까지 현지 기업 ST 엔지니어링에 의해 전면적인 현대화 사업을 거쳤으며, 이를 통해 항전장비, 보조 체계, 자기방어 체계가 개선됐다. 다만 1990년대에 글래스 콕핏을 포함한 항전장비 개량을 받은 이번 신규 도입 C-130H 4대가 동일한 수준으로 추가 업그레이드를 받을지는 아직 불분명하다.

또한 C-130H 전력 전반에 대해 향후 10년 이상 운용 효율성을 유지하기 위한 추가 수명 연장 프로그램이 시행될지도 알려지지 않았다.

최소 10년 이상 여러 기업들이 RSAF의 전술수송기 재자산화 사업 가능성을 주시해 왔다. 대표적으로 에어버스는 A400M, 엠브라에르는 C-390, 록히드마틴은 C-130J를 각각 제안해 왔다.

그러나 이번 결정으로 RSAF의 차세대 수송기 선정은 최소한 다음 10년 중반 이후로 미뤄질 것으로 예상된다.

로이 추 작성

Singapore Airshow 2026: Singapore renews Hercules fleet with pre-owned C-130Hs - Asian Military Review

Singapore Airshow 2026: Singapore renews Hercules fleet with pre-owned C-130Hs

By

 Roy Choo

 -

February 3, 2026

The ongoing delivery of second-hand C-130Hs will allow the RSAF to retire its elderly C-130B fleet. (Roy Choo)

Singapore will phase out its four older Lockheed Martin C-130B tactical transport aircraft in favour of newer second-hand C-130H aircraft. This will possibly delay the introduction of a next-generation airlifter by about a decade.

The acquisition and ongoing delivery of the aircraft was confirmed by Major General Kelvin Fan, Singapore’s Chief of Air Force, in a written media interview on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow 2026, which Asian Military Review attended.

“After thorough eval‎uations, we’ve determined that the C-130 remains the best platform to meet our operational needs for the next 15 to 20 years,” Fan stated.

He continued: “The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is therefore acquiring used, but still well-maintained, C-130H aircraft to replace our ageing C-130Bs. Deliveries have begun, and these aircraft will be repurposed to meet the RSAF’s requirements.”

Over recent weeks, three C-130H aircraft bearing US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) registrations have arrived in Singapore’s Paya Lebar Air Base. Checks online indicate that these belong to the US company Blue Aerospace. A fourth C-130H, also under FAA registration, is believed to be slated for transfer in the near future.

The four C-130H aircraft were taken into ownership by Blue Aerospace upon their retirement from the Spanish Air Force in December 2020, and subsequently stored at a regional airport in Spain.

The batch includes a KC-130H fitted with refuelling pods, as well as a C-130H-30 stretched variant offering greater cargo capacity. These were transferred to Singapore in late January as the second and third aircraft, respectively. Notably, this will be the first time Singapore has operated the “-30” variant.

The RSAF currently operates ten C-130s, comprising four C-130Bs and six C-130Hs. While the “H” models are new-build aircraft purchased in the 1980s, the C-130Bs were transferred second-hand from the USA and Jordan starting in 1977; this means they are now around 60 years old.

The C-130Hs are regularly tasked with supporting Singapore Armed Forces overseas training activities, as well as conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions across the region. The older C-130Bs, by contrast, have been relegated to local training flights.

The RSAF’s C-130B/H fleet underwent a comprehensive modernisation programme by local company ST Engineering between 2007 and 2014, improving their avionics, auxiliary and self-protection systems. It remains unclear whether the four newly acquired C-130Hs – which received avionics upgrades, including a glass cockpit, in the 1990s – will be upgraded to the same standard.

It is also unknown whether a further life extension programme will be implemented across the C-130H fleet to keep the aircraft operationally effective for another ten years or more.

For at least a decade, numerous companies have been eying a potential RSAF tactical transport recapitalisation programme. Notably, Airbus, Embraer and Lockheed Martin have been offering the A400M, C-390 and C-130J respectively.

The latest development is now expected to delay selection of the RSAF’s next-generation airlifter until at least the middle of the next decade.

by Roy Cho

[백선호]

C-130B면 진짜 골동품이었네요. @.@

[위종민]

https://www.planespotters.net/photo/1766194/725-republic-of-singapore-air-force-lockheed-kc-130b-hercules-l-282

골동품 기체인 것 치고는 싱가포르답게 유지보수 잘 됐는지 외관 상태는 매우 좋네요 ㄷㄷ