C130

C-130 HERCULES MAFFS:
THE ORIGINAL MODULAR AIRBORNE FIREFIGHTING SOLUTION

Proven Surge Firepower

For decades, the C-130 Hercules equipped with MAFFS has delivered surge aerial firefighting capability in support of national response efforts. The roll-on/roll-off system enables operators worldwide to rapidly convert multi-mission aircraft into mission-ready aerial firefighting platforms — without permanently dedicating fleet assets to a single role.

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Key Feature

Fielded across multiple operators and wildfire seasons, MAFFS on the C-130 remains the benchmark for surge aerial firefighting.

TRUSTED BY

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. Air National Guard

Tunisian Air Force

Colombian Air Force

Portuguese Air Force

MODULAR BY DESIGN

C130 MAFFS Features 

MODULAR BY DESIGN

Roll-on/roll-off installation within the standard cargo compartment

Rapid conversion between transport and firefighting missions (4-8 hours)

Self-contained tank, dual compressors, and control systems — aircraft fully pressurized during operations

Immediate return to full military service with zero residual modification

OPERATIONALLY PROVEN

Over 50 years of operational service since the 1970 Laguna Fire

Fielded by military and civil protection operators across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia

Precise ground coverage across mountainous, rugged, and remote terrain

Military-trained aircrews maintain high readiness and safety standards year-round

HIGH CAPACITY RETARDANT DELIVERY

3,000 US gallons (11,356 litres) retardant capacity — classified as a Type 1 air tanker, the largest class

Pressurized discharge at 1,200 PSI through a proprietary S-duct nozzle, keeping the aircraft sealed, minimizing drag, and protecting the fuselage from retardant corrosion

Variable drop configurations: full release or segmented drops for precision application

Immediate return to full military service with zero residual modification

Mission Capabilities

The C-130 Hercules is the most widely fielded military transport aircraft in history—paired with MAFFS, the global C-130 fleet transforms into the world’s largest surge aerial firefighting capability.

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MISSION FLEXIBILITY​

  • One airframe, many missions: transport, humanitarian, logistics, and firefighting
  • Aircraft serve full military roles outside fire season with no standby cost
  • Integrates into established wildfire response frameworks, from national activation through lead-plane coordination to ground-crew handoff

PERFORMANCE PROFILE

  • Typical drop speed: ~140 knots at 200 ft AGL for optimal retardant coverage
  • Compatible with C-130H and C-130J Super Hercules variants
  • Proven effective in mountainous and rugged terrain where ground access is impossible

OPERATIONAL RECORD

  • Over 10 million gallons of retardant delivered on U.S. wildfires and counting — including full eight-aircraft surges on the 2021 Dixie Fire and the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires
  • When all large civilian tankers were grounded in 2004, MAFFS C-130s were pre-positioned across western states as the nation's sole heavy air tanker resource
  • The only modular system with a proven international crisis-response record