Retrofits, Modifications and Upgrades Extend C-130 Hercules Fleet

With an unparalleled record of performance, flexibility and versatility, it’s no wonder that more than 60 nations have made the C-130 one of their preferred transport aircraft. The most historical aircraft of the C-130 fleet is the C-130H, also known as “Hercules”, which has been in service for more than half a century. The four-engine turboprop aircraft entered service for the U.S. Air Force in 1965, performing a range of missions, including search and rescue, weather reconnaissance, maritime patrol, aeromedical evacuation, precision airdrop and tactical airlift operations.

With aging aircraft, budget constraints, and pressing needs to maintain combat viability, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) support for sustainment is diminishing due to critical supply chain deficits. To minimize this issue, Honeywell Aerospace has partnered with Kellstrom Defense, an FAA-certified provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul and sustainment services for the armed forces of the U.S. and more than 60 other countries. This partnership will bridge the gap between the major C-130 distribution channel deficits by establishing and maintaining availability for a broad range of components all at an affordable cost.

A common strategy to extend the life of an aircraft fleet is to modernize the existing airframes with new components. This strategy resolves the issues that face an aging fleet such as decreasing reliability, outdated avionics, and mission readiness capabilities that no longer meet current U.S. Air Force requirements. Kellstrom Defense owns and operates FAA-approved Honeywell certified repair stations that specialize in the complete repair and overhaul of Accessory Class III, Instrument Class I, II, III, and IV C-130 products. Offering customers, a “Total Support” business model, Kellstrom and Honeywell work side by side to establish short and long term program packages that are customized to meet your specific sustainment requirements and budget limitations.

Where You Can Save

According to the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, 22% of the avionics are already obsolete on the C-130H aircraft. Emphasizing on communications and flight safety technologies, upgrades we have available include: broadband satellite communications systems, weather radar, Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS) and Enhanced Group Proximity Warning Systems (EGPWS).

Already selected by several operators, the Honeywell RDR-4000M radar has proven effective in combat operations aboard the C-17. Known as the “military version” of the commercial RDR-4000, this radar system includes added features such as:

• High-Resolution Ground Mapping
• Doppler Beam Sharpened Precision Ground Mapping
• Sectored Skin Paint Modes.

The RDR-4000M weighs 65 percent less, is smaller and consumes less power than legacy radars, offering customers a five-fold improvement in reliability compared to most weather radars installed on C-130s today. All this combines to provide C-130H flight crews with a weather radar system that enables safe and efficient flight management while saving fuel, reducing potential weather damage to the aircraft and helping operators achieve their missions.

“As a Honeywell authorized repair center, Kellstrom Repair Services can provide its customers with a unique value proposition that combines the best of KDA, KRS and Honeywell,” said Andy Trosper, KRS President. “With the support of the Honeywell team and our wide range of internal capabilities and expertise, we are able to deliver value to our customers through innovative solutions and support enabling our customers to complete their missions.”

To learn more about Kellstrom Defense C-130 upgrade solutions, click here.