Marshall passes maintenance milestone for USMC
USMC KC-130J takes off from the Marshall Aerospace and Defence facility in Cambridge, UK. (Photo: Marshall ADG)
Marshall Aerospace and Defence has completed the first planned maintenance interval of a USMC KC-130J Super Hercules at its MRO facility in Cambridge, and the tanker aircraft has now returned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 at Cherry Point, North Carolina.
The KC-130J underwent the work in the UK as part of a ten-year, multimillion-dollar contract from the DoD.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, the USMC operates the largest number of KC-130Js in the world, with a total of 60 aircraft expected by the end of 2021 and more to follow in subsequent years,
Marshall won the Multiple Award Contract (MAC) in 2020 after an international competition that included extensive pre-solicitation audits and a demonstration of past performance.
Duncan Eldridge, MD of Marshall Military Aerospace, described the planned maintenance interval as ‘extensive’, adding that its successful delivery was ‘a very significant and exciting milestone for Marshall’.
The company supports a total of 17 C-130 operators worldwide.
After learning in March 2021 in the MoD Command Paper that the UK will take its C-130J fleet out of service in 2023 (12 years earlier than expected), Marshall Aerospace intends to take advantage of international transport aircraft market demand.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
Turkey’s Eurofighter process going to plan despite German block, says minister
The comment, made by Turkish defence minister Yasar Guler, also noted that the 40-strong sale of Eurofighter Typhoons was primarily managed by the UK, not Germany.
-
Airbus awaits USMC decision on Logistics Connector programme
Airbus has been advancing development of its uncrewed MQ-72C Logistics Connector for the US Marine Corps, with a decision on the programme expected in early 2026.
-
Belgium considers additional F-35 order to boost fleet
The statement from Prime Minister Bart De Wever during a parliamentary session follows the country’s Easter Agreement which would see it increase defence spending to 2% of GDP by the end of 2025.
-
Northrop Grumman notes $477 million loss as it manages higher B-21 programme costs
In its Q1 earnings call, the company disclosed a US$477 million pretax loss related to the programme as it works to scale up.
-
India set to sign Rafale-M deal
New Delhi gears up to sign Navy Rafale deal as talks swirl around a potential assembly line in Nagpur.
-
Lockheed Martin wants to “supercharge” F-35 after NGAD loss
The investment in technologies developed for Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) aircraft bid will now be applied to its F-35 and F-22 aircraft, according to Lockheed Martin CEO James Taiclet.