The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) has fully operationalised its fleet of C-130J Super Hercules aircraft with the delivery of the fifth and final plane, as stated in a press release from Marshall.
The formal handover took place at Marshall’s headquarters in Cambridge, attended by representatives from the Bangladesh High Commission in London and the BAF.
According to the press release, Her Excellency Saida Muna Tasneem, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the UK and Ireland, highlighted the importance of this milestone for the BAF.
Marshall’s programme to upgrade and enhance the BAF C-130J fleet began in 2018 and involved decommissioning the aircraft from their previous service in the Royal Air Force and integrating advanced avionics and other enhancements.
The modifications included passenger transport and survival equipment.
Her Excellency Saida Muna Tasneem remarked, “The work performed here in Cambridge will directly support us in fulfilling our operational commitments for decades to come, and I would like to thank the Marshall team for their expertise and commitment.” She also noted that this collaboration exemplifies the growing UK-Bangladesh defence relationship.
While all five aircraft are now in service, Marshall will continue to support the BAF with additional modifications and a range of technical services, including global engineering support, supply chain and logistics management, spare parts procurement, and training.
Bob Baxter, Marshall’s Chief Growth Officer, said, “Fielding these five C-130J Super Hercules aircraft with a range of sophisticated upgrades will ensure the BAF’s mission-readiness to support UN peace-keeping and humanitarian missions around the world.”
All bloody marvellous, apart from the RAF is short of transports, another cut to the RAF fleet, don’t you just love the Government and MoD.
I went on a trip to Marshall Aerospace in the mid-2000s. It was a great experience looking at their projects. Shame we got rid of the C-130.
Are these the aircraft that were supposed to be knackered?
They weren’t at all. They simply needed an overhaul. There are C-130’s still flying from the 1970’s all around the world.
I agree. They were perfectly able to be brought to the necessary standard.
Shame the effect it has on SF. Presumably some SF airlift now depends on 3rd parties? Which is not ideal in the SF world where nobody knowing anything, including wether anyone was ever really there, is the key objective….
Standby for an emergency procurement of C130J in a couple of years at 10X the cost of keeping these flying in UK service!
I’ve tried to highlight the impact there many times.
Apparently I’m a “Herc fan boy” for wanting their retention, and the effect on daily taskings, and ability to keet that, not only for DSF, but another organisation.
Nope I think you are using common sense and common knowledge.
I mean US SF and USMC are on the same page as you are……so you are hardly shouting at the walls!!
I do not think these are the ex RAF ones?
Previous service in the RAF it says in the article mate!
Should have gone to Specsavers.
FFS I missed that.
So, “started in 2018” so assume these are an earlier tranche of RAF retirees, not part of the 14 just recently thrown away.
Whatever, you know my views on losing the Hercs. Disgraceful cut.
All 5 are part of the recently retired 14.
Ok.
Aren’t they all C130J not C130J-30 as the last 14 x retired comprised of just 1 x C130J & 13 x C130J-30?
You can’t make it no extra Atlas aircraft ordered, shortage of transport aircraft while 13? Perfectly serviceable aircraft are sat at Cambridge Airport & I haven’t heard of any them been sold.
Apart from Belgium we are the only nation who don’t operate anything smaller than the Atlas so I resume the others believe the Atlas is too big for some roles..
They should never have been sold! Had years of life left!
Maybe the UK can sell some T31s to Bangladesh?
For goodness sake don’t suggest anything like that, before you know it it will become government policy!
UK did offer Type 31 for BD Navy’s multirole frigate program. But you guys demanded huge price, so our MoD dropped the offer.
Quite possibly funded by our overseas aid budget.