Bangladesh to receive additional surplus UK C-130J airlifters

The sale of additional UK-surplus Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules transport aircraft to Bangladesh has been confirmed by a support contract announced by Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group (ADG) on 20 June.

The Asian nation is to receive an undisclosed number of aircraft to add to the two already confirmed via a previous support contract for Marshall ADG. With the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) looking to divest itself of nine ‘short-bodied’ C-130Js (designated C5 in UK service), all but four aircraft have already been earmarked for customers.

“Marshall ADG has signed a new multi-million-pound contract with the Bangladesh Air Force to support additional C-130J aircraft purchased from the UK Ministry of Defence [MoD]”, a company statement said, adding, “This new multi-year contract follows on from the contract signed in May 2018, and will see Marshall provide total support to the entire Bangladesh Air Force C-130J fleet”.

The Bangladesh Air Force has previously noted that the acquisition of C-130J aircraft from the RAF provides a key enhancement to its current airlift capability. As well as performing in-country support of the aircraft, Marshalls will also be modifying the aircraft, including designing, developing, and installing a medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) capability, to enable the Bangladeshi Air Force to carry out tasks within the country and overseas in support of UN missions.