The Pakistan Air Force selected Rockwell Collins [COL] to upgrade the avionics suite of 16 C-130 aircraft for an unspecific contract amount through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales Office, the company said March 31.
Under the contract terms, the company will provide the Flight2 integrated avionics suite plus training and technical support during installation for up to 11 C-130E and five C-130B aircraft. The contract also includes additional support like consolidated flight manuals, checklists, and maintenance supplements required to operate and maintain the fleet.
The company said the Flight2 system will provide the aircraft with unrestricted access to global airspace by meeting current communication, navigation, and surveillance/air traffic management airspace requirements.
The avionics system upgrade includes a full glass cockpit with new primary flight displays; the Required Navigation Performance Area Navigation flight management system with High Altitude Release Point and Computed Air Release Point precision airdrop software; a modern digital autopilot, Very High Frequency, High Frequency, and SATCOM communications; navigation sensors; and safety and surveillance systems including Weather Radar, Traffic Collision Avoidance System, Terrain Awareness and Warning System and digital map.
Rockwell Collins noted this will give the Pakistan Air Force capabilities consistent with the world’s leading C-130 operators.
“Pakistan Air Force pilots will experience greater situational awareness and communications capabilities with the highly advanced avionics onboard these aircraft. Through our work with the Pakistan Air Force, we look forward to continuing our long legacy of helping C-130 pilots achieve their missions with these important upgrades,” Dave Schreck, vice president and general manager of airborne solutions for Rockwell Collins, said in a statement.
The upgrade work will be performed in Pakistan and is expected to be finished by Dec. 31, 2020.