RAAF C-130Hs gifted to Indonesia

Australia has announced plans to donate four retired C-130Hs to Indonesia. (Dept of Defence)

Australia will donate four C-130H Hercules transports to Indonesia in a deal announced this weekend at the Asia-Pacific summit in Bali.

The quartet of ex-RAAF aircraft, worth about $30 million, will be tabbed for humanitarian and disaster relief efforts, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said in announcing the deal. Australia also announced plans to send three high-speed naval boats to patrol Indonesian waters in a bid to combat people smugglers.

The C-130Hs were due to be sold on the open market and reportedly require about $25 million in maintenance before they’re ready to fly.

The move came as Gillard sought to allay regional concerns over Australia’s growing military ties with the US. The White House two days earlier announced plans to sell Indonesia 24 refurbished F-16 fighters.