Rolls‑Royce inks MissionCare deal with Sabena Technics for French‑German C‑130J fleet

Rolls‑Royce has signed a subcontract with Sabena Technics to provide its MissionCare propulsion support for the binational French‑German C‑130J Super Hercules fleet. The agreement covers ten aircraft – five C‑130J transport planes and five KC‑130J tankers – operated by the Binational Air Transport Squadron based at Évreux‑Fauville Air Base in France, and runs until December 2030.

Under the contract, Rolls‑Royce will deliver flight‑hour‑based sustainment services for the fleet’s AE 2100D3 turboprop engines. The deal follows the CAROLUS operational‑readiness programme awarded in January 2026 by France’s Directorate of Aeronautical Maintenance, which named Sabena Technics as the prime contractor. Rolls‑Royce field service representatives will be stationed at Évreux and at the company’s main MRO hub in Bordeaux, working alongside Sabena Technics staff to maximise engine availability and mission readiness.

Both parties highlighted the partnership’s hands‑on nature. Meagan Rater, Director of US Mature Programmes for Defence at Rolls‑Royce, said the MissionCare programme embeds the OEM’s engineering expertise directly on the ground. Sabena Technics CEO Hervé Grandjean said the collaboration completes the integrated support network needed to keep the strategic squadron deployable.