Posted by Courtney E. HowardWARNER ROBINS, Ga., 9 Sept. 2011. BAE Systems engineers will develop, qualify, and test new mission computers for 37 C-130 U.S. Air Force aircraft under a $23 million contract. They will also integrate existing software into the systems, manufacture the kits used for final installation by Air Force personnel, and conduct ground and flight testing of the computers. The new mission computers replace current equipment on roughly 20 MC-130H variants and 17 AC-130U variants employed by Special Operations Forces.BAE Systems engineers will perform work on the contract, won from Air Force Materiel Command at Warner Robins Air Force Base in Georgia, at BAE Systems facilities in Warner Robins and San Antonio, Texas, as well as various government locations.
“This win further strengthens our position in the market for developing and upgrading aircraft mission computers,” explains Gordon Eldridge, vice president and general manager of Aerospace Solutions at BAE Systems Support Solutions.
BAE Systems staff have designed, supported, and completed more than 200 modifications to C-130 variants, starting in the late 1990s. BAE Systems also won an $8 million contract to develop, test, and install more than 85 crashworthy seat systems to enhance the survivability of C-130s.
