Lockheed Martin and Leonardo have signed an agreement to strengthen MRO support for the C-130J Super Hercules fleet across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), reinforcing regional sustainment capabilities for one of the world’s most widely operated military airlifters.
Announced at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, the agreement paves the way for Leonardo to become a regional C-130J MRO Centre, expanding its role within Lockheed Martin’s global support network for the Super Hercules programme.
As part of the collaboration, Lockheed Martin will provide Leonardo with technical assistance, specialised equipment and training to further enhance its maintenance capabilities in Italy. The initiative aims to establish the country as a strategic regional hub for the maintenance, repair and long-term sustainment of the C-130J fleet, while also exploring additional opportunities in aircraft support and lifecycle services.
More than 570 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft have been delivered to operators in 27 countries worldwide, including 16 nations across Europe and the MENA region, all of which could potentially utilise Leonardo’s enhanced MRO capabilities once operational.
The proposed regional service centre is expected to provide OEM-certified maintenance solutions, ensuring operators have access to the latest technical updates, improved fleet planning support and faster turnaround times. By offering maintenance services closer to customer bases, the facility is also expected to improve aircraft availability, operational readiness and mission effectiveness for military operators across the region.
The initiative is expected to further enhance interoperability among NATO-operated C-130J fleets by providing standardised maintenance support, common technical practices and consistent OEM-approved sustainment solutions.
The agreement builds on a partnership spanning more than two decades between Lockheed Martin and Leonardo. During this period, Leonardo has provided technical and logistical support for the Italian Air Force’s C-130J fleet while developing extensive expertise in tactical military aircraft maintenance through its long-standing role as both the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and MRO provider for the Leonardo C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft.
Many air forces worldwide operate the C-27J alongside the C-130J, using the two aircraft as complementary platforms for tactical airlift missions, humanitarian operations, disaster relief and military logistics.
Trish Pagan, Vice President – Air Mobility and Maritime Missions at Lockheed Martin, said the partnership will strengthen regional fleet readiness while expanding long-term sustainment capabilities.
“As operational requirements continue to evolve, the Super Hercules programme continues to grow through approved service centres that enhance fleet readiness and strengthen regional resilience. By investing in and collaborating with Leonardo, we are expanding MRO capabilities across Europe while creating opportunities to support operators in additional regions in the future,” Pagan said.
Tommaso Pani, Senior Vice President – Marketing and Sales, Leonardo Aeronautics, said the agreement reflects growing confidence in Leonardo’s military aircraft sustainment expertise.
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“Expanding Leonardo’s role within the C-130J MRO market and increasing our responsibility for supporting operators across such an important and diverse region is a strong endorsement of our maintenance capabilities. We have the experience, infrastructure and technical expertise required to deliver the high levels of responsiveness and customer support that military operators expect. We thank Lockheed Martin for its continued trust and look forward to beginning this new chapter of collaboration,” Pani said.
The partnership reflects the growing importance of regional MRO ecosystems in the defence aviation sector, where operators are increasingly seeking localised sustainment capabilities to improve fleet readiness, reduce maintenance turnaround times and strengthen supply chain resilience. For the military aerospace aftermarket, investments in regional OEM-authorised maintenance centres are becoming critical as defence forces focus on maximising aircraft availability while reducing lifecycle support costs for ageing and next-generation fleets alike.
