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C-130J
The Turkish Air Force is expected to receive its first former UK Royal Air Force (RAF) Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules airlifters by year’s end, the country’s defense ministry says.
Rear Adm. Zeki Aktürk, spokesperson for the Turkish Ministry of National Defense, said the C-130Js procurement is “proceeding according to the planned schedule.” He spoke to journalists June 25 during the department’s weekly briefing.
Ankara is acquiring 12 former RAF C-130Js, which are being overhauled and upgraded ahead of delivery by Cambridge, England-based Marshall Aerospace.
The RAF controversially decided to retire the type in 2023 to save money, deciding to rely entirely on the Airbus A400M for UK tactical airlift needs.
Two of the 12 aircraft will be delivered before year’s end, Akturk said, with the rest following “within the framework of the established procurement schedule,” which was not disclosed.
The C-130Js may provide some relief to the Turkish airlift fleet, which is entirely reliant on the Airbus A400M after an accident in November near the Georgia-Azerbaijan border grounded all of the Turkish Air Force’s C-130s.
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