In a significant international defense agreement, Marshall Aerospace has been selected by the Turkish Ministry of National Defence to provide comprehensive support for its fleet of new Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft.
The multi-year contract ensures the operational readiness of all 12 C-130Js destined for the Turkish Air Force. Marshall’s responsibilities will encompass the entire entry-into-service process and long-term sustainment. This includes scheduled maintenance, the management of spare parts, and the provision of specialized tooling. A key element of the partnership involves Marshall delivering extensive training programs to help Turkish personnel build a robust, indigenous support capability for the C-130J platform.
Marshall’s involvement with the Turkish aircraft began even before this support contract. Acting as the Principal Retail Partner in collaboration with the UK’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Export & Sales team, the company facilitated the resale process. During this period, Marshall’s facility in Cambridge, UK, has been the home for the fleet, where technicians have performed essential anti-deterioration maintenance and storage services to preserve the aircraft’s condition.
A critical pre-delivery task will see Marshall engineers complete mandatory centre wing box replacements on all 12 airframes, a crucial modification to ensure the long-term structural integrity and service life of the tactical transports.
Bob Baxter, CEO of Marshall Aerospace, commented on the win, stating, “We are delighted to have signed this contract to keep Türkiye’s new modern, world-class tactical airlift fleet mission-ready. This announcement highlights our position in the global C-130 community as a leading provider of through-life fleet support.”
This contract with Türkiye further solidifies Marshall’s reputation as a premier partner for global C-130 operators. The company has now supported the acquisition and entry-into-service for eight different operators of both legacy C-130 and the newer C-130J models, including the Austrian Air Force, the Bangladesh Air Force, and the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels demonstration squadron.
