Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of the air mobility and maritime missions line of business at Lockheed Martin, announced the milestone at the Hercules Operators Conference, the annual C-130 operator-industry event held in Atlanta, Georgia.

"The C-130J has earned a reputation as the world's workhorse and this most recent achievement is a powerful reminder of the Super Hercules' unmatched global reach," McLean said.

"Crews continue to exemplify the C-130J's proven capability and versatility with every mission they fly. The Lockheed Martin team is proud of the work of the Super Herc crews who rely on the C-130J to support vital missions, both home and abroad."

Australia is one of the nations that operates C-130J aircraft, as well as the UK, US (the US Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard), Italy, Denmark, Norway, Canada, India, Qatar, Iraq, Oman, Tunisia, Israel, Kuwait, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, France and Bahrain.

Lockheed Martin Flight Operations, whose crews are the first to fly every C-130J produced, also contributed to the flight hours.

The Royal Australian Air Force operates 12 of the medium-sized tactical air-lifter from RAAF Base Richmond by No. 37 Squadron, and are an important air link for Australian Defence Force personnel overseas, with two aircraft deployed in the Middle East to provide assistance to medical treatment locations.