Bangladesh receives third former British C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft

The 3rd C-130J Super Hercules for the Bangladesh Air Force, as it arrive in Dhaka on 17 September 2020. Photo c/o Dhaka Tribune.

The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) received its third Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules tactical transport aircraft, which was delivered by British company Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group.

The aircraft arrived in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 17 September 2020 after conducting fuel stops in Cairo, Egypt, and Muscat, Oman.

The Bangladesh Ministry of Defence (MOD) purchased five C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the British Ministry of Defence, the aircraft being former Royal Air Force (RAF) Hercules C5 transport aircraft that were overhauled and restored by Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group and includes modifications including avionics upgrade, and provisions for a medical evacuation and passenger transport.

The Hercules C5 was prematurely retired from RAF service, which were delivered only starting 1999, as the service moves up to the larger Airbus A400M Atlas aircraft.

The BAF received the first C-130J Super Hercules on August 2019, and the second aircraft on May 2020. The forth and fifth aircraft are expected to arrive in 2021.

The C-130J Super Hercules are currently the BAF's most modern transport aircraft, with the service also employing the older C-130B/E Hercules it acquired from the US, as well as the smaller Antonov An-32.


[1] Scramble Magazine
[2] Dhaka Tribune
[3] Royal Air Force