The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) has received all five surplus C-130J Mk.5 Super Hercules tactical transport aircraft it acquired from the United Kingdom. The fifth and last C-130J Mk.5 Super Hercules was received in early February 2020, completing the order made by the Bangladesh government starting 2018. These aircraft were formerly with the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and were among those retired early due to the RAF’s decision to replace them with the larger Airbus A400M Atlas heavy transport aircraft.
All 5 aircraft underwent work by Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, with deliveries starting in August 2019. the company is carrying out comprehensive depth maintenance and important modifications on all the aircraft including capability enhancements such as medical evacuation, avionics upgrades, and the provision of a passenger transport configuration. Marshall ADG is modifying the aircraft to enable the Bangladesh Air Force to carry out tasks within the country and overseas in support of UN missions.
The C-130J Mk. 5 are currently the most capable transport aircraft with the BAF, as it joins other transport assets including Antonov An-32 and legacy Lockheed Martin C-130B Hercules. The acquisition of the C-130Js will enable the Bangladesh Air Force to retire the four C-130Bs that it has fielded since 2001 (these were acquired secondhand from the United States) at the same time as augmenting its three Antonov An-32 ‘Cline’ and three L-410UVP-200 transport aircraft that date from 1989 and 2015.
The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. The C-130J is a comprehensive update of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, with new engines, flight deck, and other systems. The Hercules family has the longest continuous production run of any military aircraft in history. During more than 60 years of service, the family has participated in military, civilian, and humanitarian aid operations. The Hercules has outlived several planned successor designs, most notably the Advanced Medium STOL Transport contestants.
