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Bangladesh acquiring ex-UK C-130J aircraft

Bangladesh's acquisition of two retired Royal Air Force Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules tactical military transport planes has be...

Bangladesh's acquisition of two retired Royal Air Force Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules tactical military transport planes has been confirmed with the support contract awarded to UK based Marshall Aerospace and Defense Group.

This multi-year contract will see Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group deliver a total support solution to the Bangladesh Air Force C-130J covering aircraft maintenance, logistics support including the provision of spare parts and ground support equipment for establishing local capabilities, as well as engineering services to ensure the effective operation of the fleet.


The company will also be carrying out important modifications to the aircraft, such as the design, development and installation of a MEDEVAC capability, to enable the Bangladesh Air Force to carry out important tasks within the country and overseas delivering support to UN missions.

In addition, Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group will be providing in-country technical support to the operator for an initial period along with specific technical services to support the longer-term sustainment of the fleet.

UK is retiring 10 of its 24 C-130J transport fleet as the new European Airbus A400M transport plane is introduced into fleet.

The aircraft are the short bodied C-130J variant and will replace the BAF's four second hand C-130Bs acquired from United States in 2001.

BAF transport fleet also consists the Antonov AN-32 and LET L-410 light transport aircraft.

The UK C-130J fleet were ordered in December 1994, comprising ten standard C-130J aircraft and 15 of the longer C-130J-30. The first aircraft a C-130J-30 was delivered in August 1998.

One RAF C-130J-30 was destroyed by UK forces after sustaining severe damage during a night time landing in Southern Iraq in 2007. The aircraft was damaged by a IED placed in the landing strip.