Turkey Negotiates with United Kingdom for 12 Ex-RAF C-130J Hercules and Plans to Expand A400M Fleet

Ankara is set to bolster its air force once again, this time by focusing on military transport aircraft. Reports from United Kingdom suggest that Ankara plans to acquire 12 of the 14 C-130J Hercules aircraft retired by the British Royal Air Force (RAF), though this information has not yet been officially confirmed.

These rumors have intensified over the past month, but both London and Lockheed Martin have maintained confidentiality about the identity of the potential buyer. Both Turkey and Greece have entered negotiations to acquire these aircraft. The proposed deal includes one "short" C-130J (known as C5 in the UK) and 13 "stretched" C-130J-30s (C4), marking the second batch of surplus Hercules that the Ministry of Defence has sold recently.

In 2015, eight C5 aircraft were retired and sold to Bangladesh (five), Bahrain (two), and the U.S. Navy (one). Since the late 1990s, the RAF has operated the C-130J/C-130J-30 Hercules, replacing its older fleet of C-130K models to enhance its tactical airlift capabilities.

Meanwhile, Turkey is also negotiating to acquire six A-400M transport aircraft. The Turkish Air Force currently operates 10 A-400M aircraft and is in talks with Airbus to increase this number to 16.

Greece Signs Deal for 20 F-35 Jets, Joining the F-35 Program as 19th Nation

The Greek government has formalized its plan to purchase 20 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft by signing a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) through a U.S. government Foreign Military Sale, which includes an option for 20 additional aircraft. This agreement marks Greece as the 19th nation to join the F-35 program, enhancing the Hellenic Air Force's capabilities and interoperability with NATO allies.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Mike Schmidt, director and program executive officer of the F-35 Joint Program Office, expressed enthusiasm for Greece joining the F-35 enterprise, noting the aircraft's exceptional capabilities and its role in strengthening NATO's combat effectiveness. Bridget Lauderdale, Lockheed Martin's vice president and general manager of the F-35 program, highlighted the longstanding partnership with the Hellenic Air Force and emphasized the F-35’s suitability for bolstering Greece's sovereignty and operational capacity.

The F-35 is increasingly becoming NATO's fighter of choice due to its unparalleled interoperability, ensuring strategic superiority for decades. By the 2030s, over 600 F-35s from more than 10 European countries, including two U.S. squadrons at RAF Lakenheath, will operate together, demonstrating alliance-based deterrence and advancing NATO's next-generation air power.

Mara Motherway, Lockheed Martin's vice president of Strategy and Business Development, emphasized the F-35's role in deterring threats and ensuring regional stability, contributing significantly to the evolving 21st Century Security® battlespace. Currently, the F-35 operates from 32 bases worldwide with nearly 1,000 aircraft having logged over 860,000 flight hours.

Greece, also operating F-16s, C-130s, and Hawk helicopters, is upgrading part of its F-16 fleet to the "Viper" configuration and has recently acquired 35 UH-60M Black Hawks. Defense Minister Nikos Dendias stated that the acquisition of the F-35A Joint Strike Fighters represents a significant modernization for the Greek Air Force, replacing older F-4 and Mirage 2000 aircraft. The deal, valued at $3.76 billion, will see deliveries beginning in 2028 and continuing through 2033, with the jets based at Andravida, Greece.

The procurement of F-35s comes amidst political tensions with Turkey, another NATO member expelled from the F-35 program after purchasing Russian air defense equipment. These tensions were highlighted by Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis's recent remarks about the potential use of F-35s against Turkey.

Lockheed Martin views Greece’s entry into the F-35 program as part of its ongoing international expansion, reinforcing alliance-based deterrence and setting the foundation for future air power capabilities within NATO and allied nations.