Joint Franco-German C-130 unit receives final aircraft

One of the six C-130s that Germany is contributing to the joint unit with France seen at ILA 2022 in Berlin. All 10 of the unit's aircraft are now located at Évreux-Fauville Air Base in northern France. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

The joint Franco-German C-130 air transport squadron has received its final aircraft, with all 10 Lockheed Martin KC/C-130J tanker and transport aircraft now located at Évreux-Fauville Air Base in northern France.

With the French Air and Space Force (Armee de l'Air et de l'Espace: AAE) having already received its two KC-130J and two C-130J-30 aircraft, the Luftwaffe said on 19 April that its final KC-130J has now been flown into the same location to join its two previously delivered KC-130Js and three C-130J-30s.

The C-130 air transport has an unrestricted exchange of aircraft, aircrews, and maintainers, as well as technical and logistical support based on a common pool of spare parts and a common service support contract. “Ten aircraft, two nations, one association – there has never been anything like this in Europe,” the Bundeswehr earlier said.

The joint air transport squadron is scheduled to achieve full operating capability in 2024–25.

For more information on the KC/C-130J, please seeLockheed Martin (Lockheed) C-130 Hercules .