Beyond the cargo bay: The rise of transport aircraft as battlefield, rescue assets

Transport aircraft like the C-130, C-390, and A400M now perform roles beyond cargo transport, including aerial refuelling, firefighting, and rescue missions.

The Indian Air Force used transport aircraft in operations Maitri (Nepal), Sankat Mochan (South Sudan), Devi Shakti (Afghanistan), and Kaveri (Sudan) to evacuate civilians.

During Operation Kaveri, IAF C-130 pilots landed at Wadi Seidna Air Base using night-vision devices without runway lights.

The C-130, introduced in the 1950s, has been upgraded for tactical airlift, special operations, gunship missions, and helicopter refuelling.

The Embraer C-390 Millennium is designed for rapid reconfiguration between cargo, troop transport, medical evacuation, and aerial refuelling.