Posted on 06/26/2010 2:05:15 AM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The Pentagon has signed off on low-rate initial production of the C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP), kicking off the installation of the first 20 kits.
The Pentagon is pursuing a mixed acquisition program owing to problems throughout the AMP program. Boeing, the incumbent contractor, will upgrade five C-130s with AMP under this phase, with Warner Robins Air Logistics Center performing 10 installations. The remaining five will be installed under a source familiarization program by a to-be-selected alternative contractor the government is bringing on because of Boeing’s program execution problems.
Boeing says the first two C-130Hs will be inducted into the upgrade program in August and October. The kits have already been delivered.
Full-rate production of the AMP program is planned for 2013. That should cover 198 C-130s. Warner Robins will install AMPs for about half the fleet, with a competition to be held between Boeing and the winner of the source familiarization program competition. Whether the winner will build the kits or just be responsible for the installations is not yet clear.
Planning also has begun for the phase 2 program, which covers the Air Force special operations C-130 versions. How many of those will be upgraded is currently in flux, with details to be spelled out in the Fiscal 2012 program objective memorandum; the original plan was for 166 aircraft, but it may now be down to 102.
Jeffrey McDaniel, the C-130 AMP business development manager, says international interest is on the rise now that the program has started to stabilize. Around 700 C-130s will need upgrades in the near future, McDaniel says, to meet new air traffic management requirements.
(Excerpt) Read more at aviationweek.com ...
About time!
Funny...IIRC, Boeing won this contract on Lockheed platform way back in 2001.
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