Boeing and the U.S. Air Force’s Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex in Georgia delivered the second C-130 Avionics Modernization Program aircraft modified by Warner Robins on July 17. The aircraft is the fifth to be delivered to Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.; the first three were modified by Boeing.
The Boeing C-130 AMP contract with the Air Force is currently in the Low Rate Initial Production phase.
“C-130 AMP is production-ready,” said Mahesh Reddy, Boeing C-130 AMP program director. “Its integrated systems and other improvements increase crews’ efficiency and situational awareness. The AMP solution achieved by Boeing and its Air Force customer also offers a common fleet configuration that reduces maintenance costs over the lifetime of the platform by addressing parts obsolescence.”
Multiple enhancements on the C-130 AMP are designed to reduce total ownership cost. Upgrading the electrical power system, replacing analog gauges with an integrated glass cockpit, and new wiring will greatly reduce the number of hours maintainers spend repairing old parts and increase the aircraft’s mission-readiness rate.
Another program improvement is the switch to digital technical publications, which are easier to update, reduce weight on the aircraft and save paper. The integration of the cockpit reduces flight crew workload by allowing the aircraft to be operated without a navigator, saving the Air Force about $1 billion over the entire fleet.
