Hercules (Hansard, 10 December 2003)

§ Mr. Gray
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the C-130K Hercules airframes, giving the out-of-service dates of each. [142604]

§ Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 8 December 2003]Based on current predictions it is expected that the RAFs Hercules C-130K fleet will be retired around the end of this decade. The out of service dates for individual aircraft have yet to be decided.
466W

§ Mr. Gray
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work is planned to upgrade the C-130K fleet; whether this will include upgrading of the wings; and what effect such upgrades will have on the out-of-service dates of each aircraft. [142638]

§ Mr. Ingram
On current plans it is expected that the RAF's Hercules C-130K aircraft will be progressively withdrawn from service from around the end of this decade to be replaced by A400M aircraft. Consequently there is no upgrade programme for the C130K fleet. However, a small number of aircraft have had their capabilities enhanced to meet the demands of recent operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. This did not include upgrading of their wings.