During a briefing at this week’s Farnborough Air Show, Boeing announced a new program designed to extend the service life of the Air Force’s premier tactical airlifter–the C-130 Hercules–for up to 30 years. The Total Life Extension program will address some of the airlifters modernization needs, such as avionics, structures and systems, according to company officials. A key part of the program includes the patent-pending Center Wing Box solution, an avionics package that would bring the CWB up to modern aviation standards–and could be installed without having to remove the box from its structure, Boeing claims.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.