The Belgian Air Component ordered twelve C-130H Hercules as a replacement for the Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar in 1970 and two years later the first aircraft was delivered to 20 Smaldeel from 15 Wing at Melsbroek. In the mid-1990s the fleet passed through a mid-life update programme and in 2005 were reassigned to the Tactical Transport Flight. The aircraft have been involved in numerous humanitarian deployments and are due to be replaced by the Airbus A400M transport aircraft in the coming years.