Lockheed Martin unveiled three new technologies yesterday at the Farnborough air show outside of London that it is incorporating into the baseline configuration of its C-130J transport aircraft in use with the Air Force and several coalition partner air forces. The first is a global digital map unit built by Israel’s Elbit Systems that will enhance tactical operations, the company said in a release. The second is a portable mission display built by Canada’s CMC that vastly improves mission planning and in-flight re-planning. The third upgrade is CMC’s commercial global positioning system landing system sensor unit that will fulfill the aircraft’s requirement to have an instrument flight rules, civil-certified global navigational satellite system, the company said. The Air Force already operates the J-model in combat, has increased its C-130J program of record from 82 airframes to 134, and intends to enter into a new multiyear procurement arrangement with Lockheed to acquire more airframes starting in Fiscal 2010. USAF is also buying modified variants of the C-130J to serve as tankers for combat search and rescue units and special operations forces.
The Space Force operates satellites that can peer hundreds of miles to observe threats like missile launches on Earth to other spacecraft in orbit. Now, one of the service’s acquisition arms wants to make sure USSF satellites can keep track of dangers right next or on board them.