British aerospace company Marshall and Romanian aerospace specialist Romaero have announced a strategic collaboration to provide depot maintenance support for the Romanian Air Force’s C-130 Hercules aircraft. The agreement outlines a framework for long-term cooperation as Romania seeks to modernise and expand its sovereign airlift capabilities.

 

With the Romanian Ministry of National Defence planning to upgrade and eventually replace the current C-130 airframes, the scale of in-service support required is set to grow significantly. The new partnership will focus on programmed depot maintenance (PDM), including supply chain management for necessary equipment and materials.

Marshall will contribute its expertise in engineering support, covering structural repairs, airworthiness assessments and technical publications. These services will enhance Romaero’s capacity to deliver in-country maintenance and ensure the aircraft remain operational and ready for deployment.

 

 

“Following a thorough selection process, we are pleased to be collaborating with Marshall for the sustainment of the RoAF C-130 fleet,” said General Bogdan Costas, Director at Romaero. “The Marshall team stands out for its depth of experience, full transparency, breadth of technical knowledge and impressive heritage of working on the C-130 platform.”

The cooperation has been formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed at Marshall’s headquarters in Cambridge, UK. Maintenance work on the first Romanian C-130 aircraft under this agreement is scheduled to begin in 2026.

 

 

“We are excited to work alongside the Romaero team and contribute to their delivery of high-quality and timely service to RoAF,” said Mark Hewer, Director of Aero Engineering Services at Marshall. “For Marshall, this collaboration isn’t just a chance to work with a new C-130 operator; it’s about building a long-term relationship around a vital national defence programme undertaken by a key NATO member.”

Romaero will carry out the engineering and maintenance activities from its facilities located next to Bucharest Băneasa airport. The partnership aims to strengthen Romania’s airlift capability and reinforce NATO’s regional operational resilience.