Lockheed Martin Aeronautics has restructured its C-130 Hercules organisation to increase its focus on the support and upgrade of existing aircraft.
The company has established a C-130 sustainment and modifications organisation, separate from its C-130J programme, with "responsibility for all business related to the wordwide fleet of C-130s from the B model to the H model", it says. The new group is responsible for Lockheed Martin's bid for the USAir Force's C-130 Avionics Modernisation Programme (AMP).
June Shrewsbury, the leader of the AMP proposal, is to be the new organisation's director. She previously directed the C-130 special-mission modifications performed at Lockheed Martin's Palmdale, California, plant. These and other efforts will come under the new organisation. As a result of the change, the company says it will now be more "aggressive" in pursuing C-130 upgrade work.
Ross Reynolds has been named vice-president of the now-separate C-130J programme, which will be responsible for continued development, production and support of the improved Hercules airlifter.
Lockheed Martin is negotiating a US order for 12 C-130Js, including six for the Coast Guard, funded in the fiscal year 2001 defence budget. The company is also negotiating an option contract that will allow the US Air Force to buy up to 12 aircraft a year over five years at pre-agreed prices, possibly beginning in 2002.
Source: Flight International
