Türkiye signs C-130J support contract with Marshall Aerospace

Seen during its retirement from the RAF flypast in 2023, one of 12 C-130Js that will soon be delivered to Türkiye. (Crown Copyright)

Türkiye has signed a support contract with Marshall Aerospace for the upkeep of surplus Lockheed Martin C-130J/C-130J-30 Hercules airlifters it is acquiring from the United Kingdom.

Announced by the UK maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) company on 20 October, the multi-year agreement covers entry into service and sustainment for all 12 aircraft to be operated by the Turkish Air Force (TuAF), including scheduled maintenance, spares, and tooling.

“In partnership with the UK Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Export & Sales (E&S), Marshall supported the resale process as the principal retail partner for these aircraft, while conducting ongoing anti-deterioration maintenance and storage at its facility in Cambridge, UK,” the company said. “In addition to the scheduled maintenance, Marshall will have completed centre-wing box replacements on each of the 12 airframes prior to the aircraft entering into service with the Turkish Air Force.”

Included in the agreement is the provision that Marshall Aerospace will also provide training to enable Türkiye to build up an indigenous capability on the C-130J platform. Speaking at the Ankara facility of Türkiye's Military Factory and Shipyard Management (ASFAT) on 28 May, CEO Mustafa İlbaş noted to Janes and other defence media the construction of new C-130J infrastructure, which he said was part of the state-owned company's wider efforts to offer C-130 MRO to international customers. “We are going to build [two] new hangars because we want to increase our capability and capacity [to provide MRO] for the C-130J,” İlbaş said.

For more information on the sale of the surplus UK C-130Js to Türkiye, please see Türkiye prepares for C-130J airlifters .