The third Lockheed Martin C-130J transport aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force performed a pre-delivery test flight yesterday at Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
Aircraft with serial no 99-5480 (S3-AGG) flew over East Anglia between 12.40 pm and returned by 1330 UTC according to Trailspotter, a Cambridge-based aviation spotting group.
The Bangladesh Air Force purchased five C-130J (C4) transport aircraft from the Royal Air Force. The aircraft are being modified and upgraded by Marshall Defence & Aviation Group before delivery to Bangladesh. Already two C-130Js have been received by the Bangladesh Air Force.
The C-130Js augment the fleet of four C-130B aircraft already in service with the Bangladesh Air Force.
There are plans afoot to purchase additional C-130J aircraft, possibly the lengthened C-130J-30 variant.
The Bangladesh Air Force is also keen on purchasing the A400M from France after plans to purchase C-17 Globemaster IIIs failed to materialise due to shortage of air-frames worldwide.
The Bangladesh Army is also expanding its fixed wing transport fleet with an expected purchase of another C295W tactical transport aircraft from Airbus Defence.
