Part of the C-130J Super Hercules that the United Kingdom wants to retire already has a possible buyer: Greece. The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) is interested in British turboprops to replace its own used C-130s and is already in talks with the British government about a possible acquisition. 

Second Janes, the Greek Ministry of Defense (MND) reported in November that it was on a conference call with the British company Marshall Aerospace and Defense Group, responsible for the care and delivery of the C-130Js after they were retired from the RAF. 

"The purpose of the conference call was to maintain an up-to-date discussion on the UK's upcoming sale of the C-130J aircraft, for which the Marshall company has been appointed as an external partner", said the MND.

The conference was attended by the UK Defense Attaché, Captain Alexander Bush, as well as representatives from the UK Defense Equipment Sales Authority (DESA), the British Ministry of Defense (MoD), the UK Government Kingdom and the Marshall Aerospace and Defense Group.

In October the MoD announced it would be 'getting rid of' the RAF's C-130J fleet, consisting of 13 C.4 Hercules (long C-130J-30) and one C.5 Hercules (short C-130J). The aircraft will be available for sale from 2023; the loss of freighters from the North American company Lockheed Martin will be compensated for by the Airbus A400M. 

Taking advantage of London's decision, HAF has already taken the initiative to buy the planes, whose retirement is considered early. Athens would be interested in six planes, five C-130J-30s and the only 'short' C-130J. The Greeks have been trying to replace their C-130B/H for about 10 years. Two of the Hercules are used in forest firefighting missions using the MAFFS kit, already certified for British models. 

Despite the interest of other countries in the C-130s of the RAF, the proximity between Greece and the United Kingdom can facilitate the business between the two countries, not to mention that they are member nations of NATO. The expectation is that a contract for the purchase of the planes will be signed in 2023.