Graham Warwick and Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC
A programme to upgrade the avionics in over 120 US Air Force Lockheed C-5 transports is due to get under way in mid-November with release of a draft request for proposals (RFP), according to officials at the 1997 Air Force Association annual convention in Washington from 15-18 September. A formal RFP is expected early in 1998, leading to contract award in September 1998.
Competition is expected for the $600 million programme from Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon E-Systems. The latter is upgrading the avionics in USAF Lockheed Martin C-130 and C-141 transports. Rockwell-Collins, which is upgrading the avionics in USAF Boeing KC-135 tankers, says that it has yet to decide whether to team, or to bid as a prime contractor.
Lockheed Martin has been trying to interest the Air Force in a more-ambitious C-5 modernisation, which include a new cockpit re-engineing and system improvements. Raytheon E-Systems' bid will be based on its C-141 upgrade, which includes a digital autopilot and flat-panel displays.
The C-5 looks likely to be the first aircraft equipped to operate within the satellite-based future air-navigation system under the Air Force's GlobalAir Traffic Management (GATM) initiative. Delays in defining and funding the GATM programme have slowed C-5 upgrade plans, bidders say.
Source: Flight International
