Corrected: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the Royal Canadian Air Force had won a contract to upgrade a C-130. It was a CP-140 Aurora (P-3).
UTC Aerospace Systems says it is "feeling very positive" in gaining customers for its Electronic Propeller Control System upgrade, as well as new sales on the NP2000 propeller system that is fitted on the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules.
UTAS' senior executive in charge of military business development and sales of interiors, actuation and propeller systems, John Taussig, says that there is a "natural expectation" among some operators, such as the Republic of Singapore Air Force, that it would upgrade its C-130s with the EPCS and NP2000s.
The RSAF's C-130s are currently fitted with the mechanical propeller control system, and Taussig says that EPCS and NP2000s can benefit such operators as the hardware features several key benefits including reduced maintenance and support costs, improved performance and reliability.
His comments follow an announcement that UTAS secured, earlier last month, a contract to upgrade a CP-140 Aurora (P-3) operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The company is also expecting that in the year ahead, it will receive more orders from foreign operators for the EPCS that can power both the legacy 54H60 and NP2000 propellers.
In North Asia, Taussig says the Japan Air Self-Defence Force is already operating six C-130s with the EPCS and that it is in discussions with them to upgrade another 10 units "over the next couple of years".
Source: Cirium Dashboard
