The Air Force has let a $61 million contract to Boeing for two C-130 avionics upgrade kits, along with two aircrew training system devices, announced the company. This work is part of the C-130 Avionics Modernization Program’s low-rate initial production phase. Under C-130 AMP, the Air Force is updating the cockpits of 221 C-130H2, -H2.5, and-H3 transports. Boeing has now received orders for six of the 26 AMP kits planned during LRIP. The Pentagon increased that number from 20 last December. Already, workers at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Ga., are installing AMP kits on two C-130s at Warner Robins and expect to complete them this year. Boeing said the depot would induct the third C-130 late this year and the fourth one early next year for the upgrade. The two training devices are destined for Little Rock AFB, Ark., with delivery anticipated in 2014.
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.