Turkey has confirmed a deal to acquire a batch of surplus Royal Air Force C-130J Hercules airlifters from the United Kingdom, upgrading its medium-lift transport fleet as it phases out aging B and E-model aircraft.
The Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced that 12 aircraft will be transferred under the agreement, with pre-delivery work already underway in the UK. The aircraft, retired from RAF service in 2023, are being refurbished by Marshall Group in Cambridge to prepare them for Turkish Air Force operations.
“The process to modernize and deliver the aircraft has begun,” ministry spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk said on October 16, 2025.
The refurbishment program includes structural work such as center wing box replacements, avionics updates, and re-certification for continued service life. Marshall Group’s annual report referenced an “entry-into-service” contract valued at more than £200 million ($268 million) linked to the Turkish acquisition, covering several years of modification and return-to-flight activity.
Neither side has disclosed when the first aircraft will arrive in Turkey, but the scale of refurbishment suggests deliveries will begin after 2026. Once inducted, the ex-RAF Hercules are expected to remain in Turkish service for at least two decades.
Extended-range capability
The fleet reportedly consists mainly of the stretched C-130J-30 variant, offering greater payload volume and range than the standard C-130J. The RAF previously operated both versions before retiring them after more than two decades of service. Industry sources say the Turkish deal covers 12 of the 15 Hercules withdrawn by the UK, with three remaining airframes still available for potential sale.
The Turkish Air Force currently operates Airbus A400M Atlas and CN-235 transports alongside its legacy Hercules fleet. The acquisition of C-130J models will bridge the gap between the smaller CN-235 and the heavy-lift A400M, enhancing Turkey’s operational flexibility for tactical and humanitarian missions.
The agreement comes amid ongoing discussions on a potential Turkish purchase of Eurofighter Typhoon fighters, which the United Kingdom is negotiating.
