Bangladesh has received the first of five UK-surplus Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules transport aircraft ordered for the country’s air force.
Bangladesh received its first of five UK-surplus C-130J transport aircraft on 25 August. (Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group)
The platform, which was rolled out in a ceremony held in the UK in mid-July, arrived at the Bangladesh Air Force’s (BAF’s) Bangabandhu airbase in Dhaka on 25 August, according to a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Bangladeshi military.
The ‘short-bodied’ C-130Js (designated C5 in UK Royal Air Force [RAF] service) were ordered in two batches of two and three aircraft in 2018 and earlier in 2019, respectively, as Jane’s previously reported. The remaining four aircraft are expected to be handed over by the end of 2019.
The aircraft deals were initially revealed via maintenance contracts announced by Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group (ADG), although it was the UK Ministry of Defence that first confirmed to Jane’s the total number.
Marshall ADG is carrying out comprehensive depth maintenance and important modifications on all the aircraft, including capability enhancements such as medical evacuation, avionic upgrades, and the provision of a passenger-transport configuration.
The C-130J the BAF received on 25 August is one of five aircraft of the type that will enable the service to retire its fleet of C-130Bs. (ISPR)
According to the ISPR, the aircraft will be used to transport troops and equipment, both home and abroad, as well as provide humanitarian assistance and support UN peacekeeping missions.
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