In a significant development for global defence logistics, the Turkish Ministry of National Defence has selected Marshall Aerospace to provide comprehensive, long-term support for its fleet of 12 newly-acquired Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifters. The multi-year contract solidifies Marshall’s role as a key partner in ensuring the operational readiness of Turkey’s modern air mobility capabilities.
The extensive agreement encompasses the complete entry-into-service process and ongoing sustainment for the entire fleet. Marshall’s responsibilities will include scheduled maintenance, spares provisioning, tooling supply, and specialized training programs designed to build a robust indigenous support capability within the Turkish Air Force. A critical pre-delivery task involves the replacement of the centre wing box on each of the 12 aircraft, a major structural upgrade that will be completed before the C-130Js enter active service.
This contract builds upon an existing partnership. Marshall, acting as the Principal Retail Partner in collaboration with the UK’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Export & Sales team, previously supported the resale process of these aircraft. During this period, the company has been responsible for their anti-deterioration maintenance and secure storage at its Cambridge, UK, facility.
Bob Baxter, CEO of Marshall Aerospace, emphasized the strategic importance of the deal: “We are delighted to have signed this contract to keep Türkiye’s new modern, world-class tactical airlift fleet mission-ready and mission-capable. Today’s announcement highlights our place in the global C-130 community as a leading provider of through-life fleet support.”
The Turkish Air Force now joins a distinguished list of global operators that have relied on Marshall for C-130 acquisition and entry-into-service expertise. The company has previously supported seven other operators, including the Austrian Air Force, the Bangladesh Air Force, and even the U.S. Navy’s elite Blue Angels flight demonstration team for their legacy C-130 “Fat Albert” support aircraft. This latest contract with a key NATO ally further cements Marshall Aerospace’s reputation as a central hub for C-130 Hercules knowledge, engineering, and sustainment on the world stage.
