Elbit Systems of America has been awarded a $106 million subcontract from Marsh Aviation to support the upgrade of four Grumman C-1A aircraft for the Brazilian navy.
To be performed in San Antonio, Texas at the facilities of Elbit Systems of America subsidiary M7 Aerospace, the upgrade will be conducted over a five-year period. The activity will be supervised by Brazilian navy officers who are already at the site.
The main elements of the modernisation programme include returning the stored aircraft to operational service by replacing their current engines, installing new avionics – including glass cockpit displays – introducing modern communications equipment and replacing the type's environmental control system. The aircraft also will gain an air-to-air refuelling capability.
Once upgraded, the aircraft will be re-designated as KC-2s and dedicated to carrier onboard delivery and air-to-air refuelling tasks for the Brazilian navy. The service plans to deploy the type on the aircraft carrier São Paulo.
Brazilian navy
Previously designated as C-1 Trackers, the aged aircraft were originally operated by the US Navy.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
