UK sells 12 ex-RAF C-130J Super Hercules to Turkey’s air force
October 22, 2025
Marshall Aerospace has won the contract to supply Turkey with the RAF’s retired fleet of 12 C-130J-30 Super Hercules airlifters. The value of the contract is reported to be around £200 million.
Turkey purchases ex-RAF fleet of Super Hercules
Turkey has purchased 12 British Super Hercules airlifters. These were retired in 2023 with the RAF now relying on its fleets of eight Boeing C-17A Globemaster IIIs, 22 Airbus A440M Atlases, and 14 Airbus MRTT Voyagers for its strategic and tactical airlift needs. The RAF also operates a fleet of 37 Boeing Chinook helicopters.
The RAF operated C-130 Hercules family aircraft for 56 years. The RAF placed its final order for the C-130 family in 1994 when it ordered 10 standard C-130Js and 15 longer C-130J-30 aircraft. The first of these arrived in 1994. The older C-130K models retired in 2013.
After supporting RAF commitments and air mobility squadrons in the Middle East and Afghanistan for decades, the final Hercules returned to the UK from Operation Shader at RAF Akrotiri in June 2023.
🇹🇷✈️ Türkiye is set to acquire 12 C-130J Super Hercules from the UK. The aircraft have been delivered to the relevant company for maintenance and modernization.
— Tugay Er (@er_tugay_) October 16, 2025
🤝 The UK remains one of Türkiye’s most consistent and strategically important allies in defense cooperation… pic.twitter.com/1HcRFjjSDA
The sale of the UK’s 12 retired C-130J-30s to Turkey is in partnership with the UK Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Export & Sales (E&S).
Marshall Aerospace wins contract to supply Turkey with C-130Js
Marshall Aerospace announced it has won the contract to supply Turkey with the RAF’s retired fleet of 12 Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifters. These aircraft are currently undergoing ongoing anti-deterioration maintenance and storage in Cambridge, England.
Marshall Aerospace is a British aerospace and defence contractor involved in the maintenance, repair, modification, and manufacturing of the C-130, P-8, and other aircraft.
The company announced that the Turkish Ministry of National Defence has awarded it a contract to support its new fleet of former RAF Super Hercules. The contract covers the entry into service and sustainment of all 12 aircraft, with maintenance, spares, and tooling.
Marshall also stated it will provide Turkey with training to “build up an indigenous capability on the C-130J platform.” Turkey’s existing air force’s transport is provided by 10 A400 Atlas aircraft, 18 C-130 Hercules, and 40 CASA CN-235s.
📣 Marshall Aerospace and Dowty have signed a new agreement to support global C-130J operators!
— Marshall (@MarshallGlobal) October 14, 2025
More info below 👇https://t.co/AL0R2wjRee#StrongerTogether #Partnership pic.twitter.com/ypzXeqw9lC
Seperately, Turkey is moving to purchase 40 new-build British Typhoon Eurofighters, while the RAF is considering Turkey’s new Kızılelma advanced combat drone as a potential loyal wingman for its Tempest/GCAP sixth-generation fighter.
The C-130J’s popularity and new competition
The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules and older C-130 Hercules relatives are seemingly ubiquitous amongst US-allied militaries. Lockheed has delivered around 3,000 Hercules and Super Hercules to multiple US service branches, many allies and partners, and even some civilian companies.
The upgraded C-130J Super Hercules was built to replace the older C-130 Hercules, with the type first entering service in 1999. Over 500 have been delivered to over 20 countries.
For decades, the C-130 has been “the” Western tactical airlifter of its class. The larger Airbus A400M Atlas and the smaller CASA CN-235 fill different roles and generally do not directly compete with the C-130.
Lockheed’s Super Hercules is now facing significant competition on the export market from the Brazilian Embraer C-390 Millennium. The jet-powered Millennium first entered service in 2019 and has still only been delivered in very modest numbers.
NEWS | Sweden orders four Embraer C-390 Millennium as part of joint European procurement; contract includes seven additional options paving the way for future acquisitions. Read full news: https://t.co/vjisOrkgcv pic.twitter.com/IyRmHNVc0r
— Embraer (@embraer) October 6, 2025
That said, the aircraft has seen its export orders take off, having been ordered by Brazil, Hungary, Portugal, Austria, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Slovakia, South Korea, Sweden, and Uzbekistan.
Featured Image: RAF
