24 March 2021

Marshall ‘surprised' at speed of UK C-130 retirement, warns of job losses

by Gareth Jennings

Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group (MADG) has expressed surprise at the speed at which the United Kingdom is to retire its fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130J/C-130J-30 Hercules transport aircraft, warning that the type’s premature axing could result in job losses at the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) company.

The UK currently fields 14 C-130J/C-130J-30 Hercules airlifters that will now be retired in 2023 rather than the earlier stated date of 2035. Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, which supports the fleet, has expressed its surprise at the timescale and warned it may result in job losses. (Janes/Patrick Allen)

In a statement issued the day after the UK Defence Command Paper was published, the Cambridge-based MRO provider said that, while the retirement of the Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) remaining fleet of 14 short-bodied C-130J C5 and long-bodied C-130J-30 C4 airlifters was anticipated, the decision to bring this forward from the planned out of service date (OSD) of 2035 to 2023 was not.

“There is no getting away from the fact that withdrawal by 2023 is disappointing news for Marshall, whilst we have enjoyed significant growth in our international C-130 business over recent years, our partnership with the RAF has remained the bedrock of our C-130 operation,” the MRO provider said on 23 March. “It is still too early for us to be able to assess the full impact this decision will have on our operations at Cambridge and Brize Norton, but we will do everything we can to protect as many jobs as possible but unfortunately we also have to be realistic at a time when the aviation industry is already under enormous pressure.”

Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group (MADG) has expressed surprise at the speed at which the United ...

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