DEFENSE NEWS - Planned delivery of 12 British C-130J aircraft to the Turkish Air Force

Türkiye has signed an agreement with the United Kingdom for the purchase of 12 second-hand C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, which will be drawn from the Royal Air Force’s existing stock. These aircraft, part of a batch of 15 C-130Js in the C4 and C5 variants, were placed in storage in June 2022. The sale is valued at approximately 740 million USD.

Türkiye has chosen the extended C4 version (C-130J-30) rather than the standard C5 (C-130J). The objective is to strengthen its transport fleet following the retirement of the C-160D Transall, of which reportedly only one unit remains. The British C-130J-30s will thus join the Turkish Air Force’s 6 C-130B and 13 C-130BE aircraft, currently being modernized under the ERCİYES program. They will bolster Türkiye’s medium transport capacity, bridging the gap between the 10 A-400M and 49 CASA CN235-100M aircraft, the latter also undergoing modernization (45 in transport/MEDEVAC/training configuration, 3 in SIGINT/ELINT, and 1 in Open Skies Treaty configuration). It is worth noting that the Turkish Air Force also operates 2 Gulfstream IV and 2 Cessna Citation VII aircraft.

The contract, whose negotiations were finalized around December 1, 2024, is particularly advantageous for Türkiye. The first C-130J-30, ordered by the Royal Air Force in 1994, was delivered in August 1998 and stationed at RAF Lyneham in November 1999. These aircraft are therefore relatively recent and retain strong operational potential. Having become surplus following the arrival of the A-400Ms, the Defence Equipment Sales Authority (DESA) decided to place them in storage.

Under the agreement, the aircraft will undergo reactivation, including the replacement of their Center Wing Box (CWB) by Marshall Aerospace. The company, based in Cambridge, will carry out initial maintenance and provide training for Turkish personnel. Once Type Trainings (TIP) are completed, maintenance will be performed in Türkiye using national capabilities.

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Article written by Patrice MOYEUVRE, General Officer in 2s of the French Air and Space Force, researcher at IRIS and Director of defense and security projects within Advantis.