More C-130 Avionics upgrade kits ordered by U.S. Air Force

Posted by John McHale
LONG BEACH, Calif., 30 March 2011. U.S. Air Force officials have placed an order with Boeing for two more C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) kits. The aircraft upgrade includes a glass cockpit with a head-up display; six flat-panel, full-color displays; and night-vision capability.
Air Force personnel at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Ga., will begin installing the new kits in mid-2012 with onsite support from Boeing. The agreement, part of a low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract awarded in 2010, also includes support for logistics, engineering and installation, as well as spares support equipment.
Warner Robins will install 10 of the 20 LRIP kits.
"As the modification at Warner Robins progresses, our engineering team continues to drive improvements of the installations," says Bruce Terry, C-130 AMP Low-Rate Initial Production program manager for Boeing. "We are working side by side with the Warner Robins modification and engineering teams to support a timely completion of the kit installs."
Under a previous C-130 AMP contract, Boeing upgraded three test aircraft that are being prepared to enter the Air Force's initial operation test and evaluation program in January. Boeing will begin its portion of the LRIP installations in early 2012 at the company's San Antonio facility.