Aircraft

Boeing has powered up the first Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules to be modified under the Avionics Modernisation Programme (AMP), as the US Air Force studies whether to retire rather than upgrade its ageing C-130Es and replace them with new C-130Js or the Joint Cargo Aircraft to be procured with the US Army.

E models account for about 170 of the 430-plus USAF C-130s planned for upgrade under the $4 billion AMP effort, but the first of the older aircraft is not scheduled to be inducted for modification until 2009. “Engineering will begin in 2008. We don’t need to worry until then,” says Boeing AMP programme manager Mike Harris.

The USAF is considering retiring its C-130Es because 82 of the aircraft are either grounded or restricted because of centre wing-box cracks. The $9 million repair cost, when combined with the AMP upgrade, would require the air force to spend $20 million per aircraft to keep the older Hercules in service.

Boeing is under contract for AMP development only, with production of upgrade kits to be competed following a directive from the US Government Accountability Office. The first aircraft, a C-130H2, is in ground tests in San Antonio, Texas and is expected to fly in August. “This is the core design for all the variants,” says Harris, and represents 80% of the total AMP upgrade.

“The first aircraft will prove out the design for all of the Hs,” says Harris. The “core complete” milestone, which adds defensive aids to the baseline H2 configuration, is now scheduled for July 2007. After the H models, work will begin on Combat Talon special-operations variants. “The Es are in the third group,” says Harris, noting that only one of the 11 AMP test aircraft planned is an E model.

GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON