FARNBOROUGH, England, 11 July 2012. Marshall Aerospace, reported to be the only C-130J Heavy Maintenance Center, signed an agreement with Lockheed Martin to install C-130 center wing boxes.

The company is becoming the world's first commercial, OEM-approved service center for the C-130J center wing box replacement, says Steve Fitz-Gerald, CEO of Marshall Aerospace. As the main load-bearing component of the C-130’s airframe, it is this structure that usually determines the overall operational life of the aircraft. Replacement of the center wing box can extend the service life of the C-130.

“Together with our existing unique C-130J HMC status, the enhancement of center wing box replacement approval will position us perfectly for long-term C-130J global fleet sustainment. This is a significant milestone for Marshall, and builds on our solid reputation for providing innovative engineering solutions."

“As we see the C-130J Super Hercules global fleet expanding, and the demand for the C‑130J remaining strong, we need to expand our specialized support network around the world,” explains Jim Grant, Lockheed Martin’s vice president for Air Mobility. “Marshall Aerospace has unrivalled capability in maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) across all variants of the C-130 platform, including the C-130J Super Hercules.”