TSAMTO, March 1. According to the Public Relations service of the Bangladesh Armed Forces ISPR (Inter-Services Public Relations), the fourth BTA C-130J Hercules aircraft, acquired from the British Air Force, landed at the Bangabandhu air Base of the Bangladesh Air Force in Dhaka.
The plane flew from the UK on February 20.
As reported by TSAMTO, the sale of C-130J C5 Hercules aircraft from the British Air Force to the Bangladesh Air Force under an intergovernmental agreement became known from two reports on the signing of contracts for their modernization and maintenance with the British Marshall Aerospace and Defense Group.
The agreement for the supply and support of the first pair of C-130J aircraft from the British Air Force was signed with Marshall Aerospace and Defense Group on May 10, 2018 in Dhaka. On June 20, 2019, the Bangladesh Air Force Command signed a contract with Marshall Aerospace and Defense Group for the maintenance of additional C-130J aircraft. A total of 5 aircraft were purchased from the British Air Force for the Bangladesh Air Force. The company also performs the modification of "Hercules", including the design, development and conversion into a configuration for medical evacuation in order to ensure the possibility of participating in operations on the territory of the country and abroad, including as part of UN missions.
The first C-130J C5 intended for the Bangladesh Air Force (S.n. 99-5479/S3-AGE, former British ZH881) arrived in Dhaka on August 25, 2019. Two more aircraft were delivered during 2020. The last C-130J is expected to arrive in Bangladesh before the end of the year.
The acquired aircraft will be used to transport troops and equipment, both inside and outside the country, as well as medical evacuation, humanitarian assistance and support for UN peacekeeping missions. The C-130J in the Bangladesh Air Force will replace 4 C-130B aircraft delivered since 2001 (acquired from the US Armed Forces).
