Lockheed Martin leaders salute Marshall’s 50 years as Hercules Service Center

Marshall and Lockheed Martin celebrated a major milestone in their long-standing partnership this week, with leaders from both companies gathering in Cambridge, UK, to mark the 50th anniversary of Marshall’s appointment as the world’s first C-130 Hercules Service Center (HSC).

A Lockheed Martin team led by Danya Trent, vice president of Air Mobility & Maritime Missions, toured Marshall’s headquarters and hangars on Feb. 10, meeting Marshall’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) crews and thanking them for delivering for global C-130 operators.

“Marshall is an esteemed partner to Lockheed Martin, representing the gold-standard of excellence in MRO: high-quality, low-risk, dependable turnaround times,” Trent said.

“As an indispensable part of the global C-130 community, Marshall has played a major role in the platform’s success and will continue to shape the future of the global Hercules operating community.”

The C-130 Hercules is the world’s most popular and versatile tactical airlifter and has been in continuous production longer than any other military aircraft in history. Frequently referred to as “the world’s workhorse,” the C-130 supports roughly 70 operators worldwide.

Although Marshall has worked on the platform since Lockheed Martin’s first delivery to the Royal Air Force in 1966, gaining HSC status effectively allowed the company to provide engineering support for any C-130 operator, unlocking access to the international customer base that remains the heart of Marshall’s business. Just one year after receiving HSC status, Marshall had already undertaken C-130 maintenance, repair and engineering work for 10 overseas military operators and five civil operators.

Lockheed Martin continued to recognise Marshall’s MRO leadership on the platform over the years, making the company the first Heavy Maintenance Center for the C-130J Super Hercules, granting unique “authority to manufacture” authorisation for C-130 parts, and, in November 2024, recognising Marshall as a Center of Excellence for center wing box replacements.

Accompanying the Lockheed Martin team on its visit, Marshall’s leadership heralded the remarkable success of the global C-130 program and reflected on the many opportunities it has created for Marshall and the UK.

“It is our privilege to support the world’s workhorse — an iconic airlifter that has been unmatched in terms of reliability, versatility and capability for more than 70 years,” said Gareth Williams, Chief Executive Officer — Engineering Businesses, Marshall.

“We look forward to many more decades of success for the C-130 program, and to the growth of our relationship.”

Lockheed Martin’s visit to Cambridge also served as an opportunity for Marshall and Lockheed Martin to look ahead and discuss future collaboration opportunities that will continue to enhance the readiness and capabilities of the C-130 fleets around the world.

Marshall is recognized as a global authority on MRO, engineering and modifications for the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, having built unrivalled experience on the platform since 1966.

The C-130 is the global choice in tactical airlift and refueling as reflected by operators in almost 70 nations around the world. With a global fleet of 2,700 C-130s surpassing 25 million flight hours, the Hercules is unmatched in its presence and performance.

Always evolving, continually innovating and ready for what’s next, the C-130J Super Hercules is the current C-130 production model. The C-130J leads the charge by setting standards and shaping the future of tactical airlift missions, offering many advantages found in no other medium-sized tactical airlifter in production or operation today. To date, Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 560 C-130Js and the Super Hercules global fleet has surpassed more than 3 million flight hours. For more information, visit lockheedmartin.com/c130.

About Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security® vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at Lockheedmartin.com.

About Marshall

Marshall has a diverse portfolio of businesses across a range of sectors including aerospace and defence, temperature-controlled distribution, and property.

Since 1909, our technology and engineering expertise has enabled us to provide mission-critical support for customers ranging from global armed forces and aircraft manufacturers to supermarket chains.

We made our name by predicting the rise of motorisation and aviation, and have kept the same forward-thinking spirit alive today through ambitious new ventures in next-generation flight and connected infrastructure.

Our operations across the UK, Europe, North America and the Middle East are all united behind a shared purpose of successfully solving problems that others walk away from, coupled with an inherent instinct to do the right thing. www.marshallgroup.com

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Lockheed Martin leaders salute Marshall’s 50 years as Hercules Service Center

Danya Trent (vice president of Air Mobility & Maritime Missions, Lockheed Martin) and Gareth Williams (chief executive officer, Engineering Businesses, Marshall) on stage at an event held at Marshall’s headquarters in Cambridge, UK, on Feb. 10.