Türkiye prepares for C-130J airlifters

A now-retired RAF C-130J of the type that Janes understands will be delivered to Türkiye early in 2026. (Crown Copyright)

Türkiye is preparing to receive Lockheed Martin C-130J/C-130J-30 Hercules airlifters into military service, sources with knowledge of the procurement have told Janes and other defence media.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, three sources with knowledge of the matter, but without authorisation for official comment, said in late May that the airlifters would soon be arriving in the country, with two noting that this would happen “in early 2026”. Janes understands they were referring to 12 surplus UK aircraft, which were retired from Royal Air Force (RAF) service in June 2023.

The confirmation of the procurement by Türkiye came 11 months after Lockheed Martin told Janes in June 2024 that most of the retired RAF C-130Js “now have a home”, although it stopped short of identifying the customer(s). Janes asked the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the identity of the customer(s) at that time, but was told that the buyer had not yet authorised its disclosure. Shortly after, Turkish national media reported that the Turkish Air Force (TuAF) was the customer for the bulk of the surplus fleet, buying 12 airframes.

Janes understands that personnel from the TuAF's 2nd Main Maintenance Factory Directorate (Ana Bakım Fabrika Müdürlüğünün: ABFM) at Kayseri in central Türkiye are now at Marshall Aerospace in the UK to get type certification for the C-130J ahead of receiving the aircraft in the coming months. Construction of two new hangars for the type is also set to commence at the same TuAF maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in the coming weeks.