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Canada operates 17 of the four-engine aircraft, which were first delivered from Lockheed Martin in 2010.

David Lavallee, a spokesman for 1 Canadian Air Division, stated in an email there is no one single serviceability issue that has limited the RCAF’s ability to conduct operations with the C-130J fleet in any significant way. “That said, there have been a few technical issues that have affected aircraft availability and serviceability over longer periods,” he noted.

Parts with long lead times, as well as an increase in the number of deployed aircraft supported overseas, have resulted in aircraft being offline longer than desired

Lavallee pointed to the ongoing problem getting parts from the aircraft’s manufacturer, Lockheed Martin. “Parts with long lead times, as well as an increase in the number of deployed aircraft supported overseas, have resulted in aircraft being offline longer than desired,” he acknowledged.

Discussions are underway with the U.S. firm to increase their support in providing parts. As well, the RCAF is also making use of wheel and tire assemblies from the older C-130H fleet to support the C-130Js, Lavallee said.

He stated that “so far, parts availability has not had any impact on operations.”

In August 2017 the RCAF limited certain operations the aircraft could take part in after the avionics system failed on a C-130J aircraft flying in British Columbia, he noted.

He stated that had a “limited impact” on Operation Lentus — the military’s response to natural disasters — as well as some Arctic operations.

The cause was determined to be a loose wire and restrictions on the fleet were lifted in October 2017.