Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to address shortfalls in military transport capabilities after the retirement of the C-130J Hercules fleet.

The acceleration of capability transition to Atlas has resulted in many of the operational capabilities delivered by the C-130J Hercules being transferred before the retirement of the Hercules fleet, most recently high altitude parachuting and the ability to operate from natural surfaces. Since the Hercules retired, additional niche capabilities have been released to service and crew training has begun; and trials are ongoing to further expand low level parachuting.