NEW DELHI - India plans to buy six Hercules transport planes from Lockheed Martin for nearly one billion dollars, marking the country’s biggest ever military aircraft deal with the United States, officials said on Monday. “The government has signed a letter of offer and acceptance with the US government for the procurement of six C-130J-30 (Hercules) transport aircraft for the Indian air force,” Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in a statement.The estimated value of the aircraft along with ground-support equipment and spares was around 962 million dollars, Antony said. “Delivery of these aircraft is likely to be completed by December 2011,” Antony added.
The Indian deal involves an upgraded version of the Hercules, which began production in 1997, the company said.