Turkey Considers Purchasing 12 Decommissioned British C-130 Super Hercules Aircraft

The Turkish Ministry of Defense is considering the purchase of 12 decommissioned C-130 Super Hercules transport aircraft from the United Kingdom.

This is according to a report by Scramble.

Ankara is exploring the option of acquiring used military equipment, including the C-130 Super Hercules. These aircraft which were retired by the Royal Air Force in 2022 and are currently stored in Cambridge.

The aircraft would possibly replace or supplement the existing fleet of older C-130 Hercules models, which have been upgraded for continued use, though the specifics of the replacement plan are unclear.

In addition to the C-130 Super Hercules, Turkey is in discussions with the U.K. for the purchase of Eurofighter Typhoon jets. Negotiations have intensified following the German government's approval for the export of these aircraft to Turkey. Ankararecently cut its F-16 purchase from $23 billion to $6-7 billion, shifting focus to its indigenous KAAN fighter and the acquisition of Eurofighter jets.

The U.K. and Turkey are also discussing potential future collaborations, including the offer of Turkish-made Nurol Makina armored vehicles to the British Army, with an emphasis on localized production in the U.K.

Further, Turkey is proposing the sale of its Hürjet training aircraft to the Royal Air Force, which were recently inspected by the U.K. Defense Secretary. These aircraft are being considered as part of the replacement program for the U.K.'s BAE Systems Hawk T2. 

The head of the U.K. RAF, Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, recently criticized the Hawk T2 as outdated and unreliable, calling for its replacement. He stated that the aircraft, used for training fast jet pilots, performs below expectations and causes delays, with some pilots training abroad.