Turkey to receive first C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from UK in December

Turkey is scheduled to receive the first two of twelve C-130J-30 Super Hercules transport aircraft from the United Kingdom in December. These aircraft, which were previously retired from the Royal Air Force (RAF) service, are currently undergoing maintenance, overhaul, and modernization at Marshall Aerospace facilities in Cambridge, England.

The phased delivery of the twelve long-fuselage aircraft follows a defense agreement between Ankara and London. To prepare for the new fleet, Turkish personnel are undergoing specialized training: six pilots and six technicians are training in the United States, while 29 maintenance specialists are receiving instruction in the United Kingdom. Once the training is complete, Turkey intends to manage the routine maintenance of the fleet domestically.

The sale is valued at over £550 million ($727 million) for the British defense sector and Marshall Aerospace, supporting approximately 1,400 skilled jobs in Cambridge. The C-130J fleet will address transport capacity gaps within the Turkish Air Force, which currently operates older C-130B and C-130E models.