Canadian C-130Js to deliver weapons to Ukraine

The Canadian military’s air detachment in the Middle East is being relocated to the United Kingdom.

CBC News reported that Canada’s transport aviation will deliver military aid destined for Ukraine.

The Department of National Defence announced the redeployment of two C-130J cargo planes and their associated ground support crew as necessary in light of ongoing efforts to supply Ukraine with weapons and ammunition.

The airlift detachment has been headquartered out of Kuwait under Operation Impact for several years.

“What we have done is consolidated in Scotland our C-130 tactical air detachment to be able to provide that support to Ukraine within Europe and to episodically provide support in the Middle East, and as well episodically provide support in Africa,” Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre said.

Canada’s military cargo planes — both the C-130Js and the bigger C-17s Globemasters — have been working overtime since Russia stepped up its invasion of Ukraine in February.

They have been ferrying humanitarian aid, military hardware and ammunition to points in eastern Europe where the supplies can be shuttled across the border into Ukraine.

As previously reported, Canada also joined the training program of the Ukrainian servicemen in Britain.

The C-130 Hercules is a transport aircraft produced by Lockheed in the early 1950s. As of 2015, more than 2,500 aircraft in more than 60 modifications were produced.

“Hercules” is the main tactical military transport aircraft in the Air Forces of many countries.

The C-130J, unlike the C-130E, is equipped with more powerful T56 Series IV engines, a two-seater cockpit with an electronic flight instrument system (EFIS).