A U.S. Air Force Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules aircraft. Photo: USAF.

JNS.org – The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has ceremoniously received its first shipment of the new Lockheed Martin C-130J “super” Hercules transport aircraft.

In a ceremony last week at Lockheed Martin’s production facility in the U.S., the first of three aircrafts were handed over to the Israelis, who named the aircraft “Shimshon,” the Hebrew name of the biblical figure Samson, whose mother predicted he would be as bright and strong as the sun.

Israel previously operated an older version of the C-130 since 1971. The new aircraft will extend Israel’s long-range capabilities, allowing it to transport more soldiers, lift greater loads, and fly farther than the older version.

“Israel’s new C-130J builds on the tradition of its predecessors and offers the IAF unique capabilities that are not only proven, but without equal,” George Shultz, vice president and general manager for C-130 programs at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, said in a statement.