The US Air Force has awarded a $343-million contract to StandardAero to provide long-term depot-level maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for the Rolls-Royce T56 propulsion systems used by the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules fleet.
The agreement covers the repair and overhaul of T56 engines, associated modules, and components in various configurations. The effort will support more than 1,200 C-130 aircraft operated by US military forces and 29 international military partners, including Canada, Italy, and Taiwan.
The contract will run for 10 years and will be managed in coordination with the Air Force Sustainment Center at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. StandardAero will perform its portion of the work at its facility in San Antonio, Texas.
Other companies selected under the competitive contract include Turbopower and Segers Aero Corp., which will conduct activities in Florida, Alabama, and Winnipeg, Canada.
The T56 Engine
The Rolls-Royce T56 remains one of the most widely used military turboprop engines. On the C-130 Hercules, it supports a maximum speed of approximately 320 knots, a range of around 2,050 nautical miles, and operations at altitudes of up to 33,000 feet.
The engine is also used on the P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft and the E-2 Hawkeye airborne early warning platform.
With more than 18,000 units produced, the T56 has been deployed across 70 countries and has accumulated more than 230 million flight hours, demonstrating its long-standing role in global military aviation.
