Royal Air Force (RAF) plans to terminate the fifty-six-year service of C-130 Hercules Aircraft. The service will officially end on 30 June 2023. The last operational squadron, which is equipped with Hercules aircraft since 25 February 1968, Squadron 47, will also be disbanded.
The British Defence Ministry purchased 66 C-130K aircraft in the late 1960s. Most of the fleet was retired when 25 C-130J additional aircraft were purchased as replacements. This new variant of the C130J was delivered between 1998 and 2000. The United Kingdom kept a small number of C-130Ks in service, for Special Forces Support Missions, until 28 October 2013.
United Kingdom announced its plan to retire the C-13J in order to replace it with 22 Airbus A400M aircraft.
The sole authority within the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for the sale of surplus military equipment and inventory from the UK armed forces, is the Defence Equipment Sales Authority (DESA). DESA published a brochure in September 2021, stating that a number of C-130J Hercules will be on sale. DESA has not stated how many aircraft will be available for sale. It is known that Turkish and British Defence Ministries are holding negotiations for the destiny of C-130Js to serve in Turkish Air Force (TuRAF).
