The US government has signed a multi-year contract with UK-based Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group to support the Kuwait Air Force’s (KAF’s) fleet of KC-130J extended-range tanker-transport aircraft.
Kuwait took delivery of three Lockheed Martin KC-130Js from the US in 2014, following a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process which started in 2010. Since then, the US Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has provided support for the fleet.
In 2020, Marshall Aerospace will conduct planned maintenance interval inspections, full aircraft repainting and specific overhaul tasks on the KAF KC-130Js.
![Kuwait KC-130J [Marshall Aerospace]](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Kuwait%20Air%20Force%20KC-130J%20%5BMADG%5D%20%231.jpg)
Alistair McPhee, Marshall ADG’s CEO, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this US government contract. [The] Kuwait Air Force is a very important customer and we appreciate the trust the US government have shown in our MRO capabilities”.
“We continue to expand our international market share for C-130 support, and I’m pleased to see the development of our relationship with NAVAIR and the US government, following the contract for the replacement [of] Fat Albert last year”, he added.
Curtis Brooks, Tactical Airlift Program Office (PMA-207), Kuwait KC-130J case manager, said: “We are pleased to have Marshall as part of our team. We need a strong partner to support the Kuwait Air Force [programme]. We will be counting on Marshall!”
In KAF service, the three KC-130Js are operated by 41 Transport Squadron – based at Kuwait International Airport. The aircraft are registered as KAF326 (c/n 5746), KAF327 (c/n 5749) and KAF328 (c/n 5751) in Kuwaiti service. The Hercules are employed to provide an air-to-air refuelling capability and various support missions to Kuwaiti and allied military forces across the Middle East region. The squadron also operates the air arm’s Boeing C-17A Globemaster III heavy-lift strategic transport fleet.
