Lockheed Martin team praises Marshall for 50-year milestone during Cambridge visit
A Lockheed Martin team led by Danya Trent, vice president of air mobility & maritime missions, toured Marshall’s headquarters and hangars as part of a visit in recognition of a 50-year partnership.
Although Marshall has worked on the C-130 Hercules – the world’s most popular and versatile tactical airlifter – since 1966, it became the world’s first C-130 Hercules Service Centre (HSC) in 1975.
Frequently referred to as “the world’s workhorse”, the C-130 supports roughly 70 operators worldwide, and has been in continuous production longer than any other military aircraft in history.
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 ten 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 Centre for the C-130J Super Hercules, granting unique “authority to manufacture” authorisation for C-130 parts, and, in November 2024, recognising Marshall as a Centre of Excellence for centre wing box replacements.
Danya Trent said: “Marshall is an esteemed partner to Lockheed Martin, representing the gold standard of excellence in MRO: high-quality, low-risk, dependable turnaround times.
“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.”
Accompanying the Lockheed Martin team on its visit, Marshall’s leadership heralded the remarkable success of the global C-130 programme and reflected on the many opportunities it has created for Marshall and the UK.
Gareth Williams, CEO – engineering businesses, Marshall, said: “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. “We look forward to many more decades of success for the C-130 programme, 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.
