Wallace Denies UK Will Be ‘Dangerously Exposed’ When Transport Aircraft Cut

A British Royal Air Force C-130 Hercules military transport that was carrying evacuees from Sudan is pictured on the tarmac at Larnaca International Airport, in Cyprus, on April 26, 2023. Christina Assi/AFP via Getty Images

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has pushed back against criticisms of his decision to cut the UK’s last remaining C-130J Hercules transport aircraft, which critics say would leave the country “dangerously exposed.”

Wallace announced the decision in March 2021. He told the House of Commons at the time, “As the transport fleet improves availability, we will retire the C-130J Hercules in 2023 after 24 years’ service—22 A400Ms alongside the C-17 will provide a more capable and flexible transport fleet.”