The UK government on Friday said the export and sale of 12 C-130 aircraft to Turkey has a combined value of over £550 million to “UK defence and Marshall Aerospace Group” and “safeguards” about 1,400 skilled jobs in Cambridge.
The UK secured over £20 billion in defense exports in 2025, which the government said would be the highest since UK defense export records began more than 40 years ago.
The statement was credited to UK Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard.
The C-130J Super Hercules is a military transport aircraft made by Lockheed Martin and used for cargo and troop transport, including in humanitarian missions.
The possible deal was first reported in December 2024 and later acknowledged publicly in October when Turkey’s defense ministry confirmed a finalized agreement for 12 former Royal Air Force (RAF) C-130J aircraft, and a UK defense spokesperson said the aircraft had been transferred to a private company for maintenance and modernization under an agreement with Turkey.