Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is seeking funds to replace or upgrade its Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules transports ahead of the government announcing a long awaited review of defence expenditure, which is expected to place added emphasis on air mobility. Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin has released the latest software standard for the C-130J.
Wellington is being asked to fund a "life of type" study of the RNZAF's five C-130Hs, which are over 30 years old. The study will compare the requirements and cost of modernising the aircraft against purchasing new transports.
Options include an avionics upgrade similar to the US Air Force's C-130X programme or ordering C-130Js. New Zealand holds options on five C-130Js as part of an Australian acquisition, but these expire at the end of 2002.
The RNZAF is soliciting pricing from industry and is understood to be discussing separating the C-130J deal from an Australian buy as pricing is based on a larger Royal Australian Air Force purchase. Canberra, however, has shelved plans for extra C-130Js in favour of refurbishing C-130Hs.
Lockheed Martin, meanwhile, has begun to equip the C-130J with Block 5.3 software, which provides full operational functionality. The first aircraft is at the USAir Force's Edwards AFB test centre. The software resolves a number of problems with the interim Block 5.2. Lockheed Martin has delivered 69 aircraft, with each expected to take up to three weeks to modify.
The manufacturer is also working to stop vibration aligned with the propellers around the loadmaster station. "We've just completed a joint test on the aircraft and collected some data which we're in the process of reviewing," says Ross Reynolds, Lockheed Martin C-130J programme vice president.
A senior USAF official concedes that many of the C-130J problems were unique, caused by the air force choosing to source its mission support system from BAE Systems rather than Lockheed Martin. In addition, low mission-capable rates have been blamed on inadequate spares funding.
Lockheed Martin says it has identified the cause of cracking in the KC-130J's hose/drogue coupling (Flight International, 27 February-5 March). Pod-mounted cameras have shown the coupling is overstressed because the refuelling basket is retracted back into the revised-shaped Flight Refuelling Mk32-901E pod.
Source: Flight International
