British C‑130J Hercules aircraft may soon fly under Turkish flag
The C-130J Hercules aircraft, retired from service in the British army, may soon find a new owner. The Turks are eyeing 12 transport machines, reports the Bulgarian Military portal. The portal notes that this scenario is consistent with many sources but has not yet been confirmed by authorities on either side.
8:16 PM EDT, July 26, 2024
London announced in 2023 that it intends to retire 14 C-130J aircraft. Soon after, rumors emerged about which country the machines would go to. Although the UK has not officially disclosed who the potential buyer is, speculation primarily pointed to Turkey. Additionally, there was no mention of transferring the Lockheeds to Ukraine.
Ankara plans to purchase 12 aircraft from the British
"Reports from various sources, from England to the Balkans, suggest that Ankara plans to acquire 12 of the 14 retired British C-130J Hercules," reports Bulgarian Military. It is known that the British Air Force has operated the Lockheed C-130J since the late 1990s. The aircraft has been used multiple times during military and humanitarian missions.
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft are American four-engine turbopropeller machines. Since their introduction into service in 1956, they have been produced in 40 different versions. The latest variant currently being built is the C-130J.
Improved Rolls-Royce Allison AE2100 engines power the C-130J compared to its predecessors. Additionally, it features digital avionics systems, and the number of crew members in the cockpit has been reduced to two. In British RAF service, there are two variants of the Hercules C-130J: Mk5 in the standard version and Mk4 in the extended version.
The basic version of the C-130J spans over 131 feet in wingspan and nearly 98 feet in overall length. The height of this Lockheed reaches over 38 feet, while its empty mass is 84,000 pounds. The maximum speed at which this transport aircraft can travel is about 373 mph, while the altitude at which it can operate is 33,000 feet. The actual range is 2,361 miles.
However, given that the Lockheed C-130J is a transport aircraft, it lacks armament to counter potential threats. Instead, it has space for nearly 100 passengers or over 60 paratroopers. The cargo hold can accommodate loads weighing up to 44,000 pounds, including up to three Humvee-type vehicles or one M113 armored personnel carrier.
