At a press conference at Farnborough Airshow on July 12, Lockheed Martin (Outdoor Exhibit 8) announced that Bravo Industries will purchase 10 commercial LM-100J Super Hercules utility transports. The logistics group stated that it will set up an MRO group specifically for the aircraft, as it will be used for cargo operations in Brazil. Bravo president and CEO JR Pereira and Lockheed Martin executive v-p Orlando Calvalho signed the agreement at the event.

The LM-100J is the latest variant of the civilian version corresponding to Lockheed Martin’s military C-130J. Structurally the two aircraft are similar, but the LM-100J does not have the military avionics suite that equips its counterpart. However, the civil-certified aircraft incorporates technological developments and improvements inherited from the 1.3 million flight hours the C-130J has acquired over time. Bravo Industries will use the aircraft for same-day deliveries and for special cargo handling among other missions.

At the press conference, Pereira said, “The LM-100J is uniquely suited to reach Brazil’s underserved regions where we do business. These are areas that lack ground support and certain critical infrastructure required by other commercial freighters. The LM-100J was designed to meet the varying needs of the Brazilian landscape, in turn, allowing Bravo to deliver vital goods and services where they are needed most.”

The LM-100J is currently in production and is slated to receive FAA certification in 2018 before deliveries take place in the final quarter of that year. Lockheed Martin representatives confirmed that there are approximately 15 orders for the LM-100J as well as multiple letters of intent from different organizations.