Avionics Modernization Program (AMP)

Abstract

AMP has completed all Critical Design Reviews (CDR) for hardware and software requirements. Boeing completed the initial software production build with first flight in Aug 08. Developmental flight test was completed in Dec 09 with three test aircraft having completed 426 sorties, totaling 1273 flight hours with no Category One discrepancies. The retrofit to production configuration to support IOT&E of the first two test aircraft began in Jun 09 with retrofit completion by the end of 3rd quarter FY10. Developmental efforts for the AMP training requirements will continue through FY13. In addition, the C-130 AMP contract allows for special mission analysis, studies, and engineering effort in support of additional MDS and planning for future block upgrades. The C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) consolidates and installs the mandated AF Navigation/Safety modifications, the Communications Navigation Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) capabilities and the C-130 Broad Area Review requirements on 221 of the AF's Combat Delivery C-130s. These mandated modifications are incorporated with various other Reliability, Maintainability, and Sustainability (RM&S) upgrades to include: installation and modification of fleet-wide radars, aircrew displays, dual autopilots, dual flight management systems and HF/UHF/VHF radios/data links. A C-130 AMP-equipped aircraft will be able to safely and effectively operate worldwide in today's and tomorrow's airspace. In addition to meeting CNS/ATM and Navigation/Safety requirements, AMP will also lower the cost of ownership and increase survivability of the Mobility Air Forces' (MAF) C-130 Combat Delivery fleet. This fleet consists of three (3) different mission design series (MDS) aircraft to be modified by the AMP (C-130 H2, H2.5, and H3). Within each of these MDSs multiple configurations exist among the aircraft that will be modified with AMP. Today, these different models and cockpit configurations create significant logistics support and aircrew training inefficiencies. Also, these differences greatly complicate aircrew and aircraft scheduling and interoperability at forward operating locations. C-130 AMP standardizes the cockpit configurations and avionics suites for these different variants into a single cockpit configuration by installing a core avionics package with a common cockpit layout, thus eliminating many of these significant logistics, interoperability, and training problems. A number of C-130 Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) issues are addressed during System Development and Demonstration (SDD) as a result of the new hardware included in the AMP design. Boeing's DMS plan developed during SDD will be implemented during the production phases. Shown here are RDT&E funds for only C-130 AMP. (Note: The C/EC/WC-130J fleets are separately funded and not included here.) The SDD contract was awarded to The Boeing Company on 30 Jul 01. An Integrated Baseline Review (IBR) was conducted in January 02. From FY02-05, the combination of funding and requirements instability, coupled with increases in prime contractor development costs pushed AMP into reportable cost and schedule breaches. In Feb 07, SECAF notified Congress of a critical Nunn-McCurdy breach. In Jun 07, USD (AT&L) recertified AMP to Congress-albeit at a reduced profile of 222 aircraft, comprising the majority of the AMC/ANG/AFRC Combat Delivery fleets. The program was reduced to 221, due to loss of aircraft in June 2008. Not certifed within AMP were 166 Special Mission and C-130H1 Combat Delivery aircraft. These aircraft were placed in a separate modification program: C-130 AMP Phase II. This project consists of low technical risk efforts supporting a stable design that has been proven in flight test and therefore was assigned Budget Activity Code 07. Finally: funds are required to pay the settlement w/Lockheed over the 2005 protest agreement. In FY10, Congressional rescissions and reductions of $37M in FY09 ($18M) & FY10 ($19M) resulted in an Air Force unfunded requirement to pay the Lockheed Martin Protest Settlement of $19M

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2011
• Source ID: 674885_0401115F_7_3600_PB_2011

Tags

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering
• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.

Technology Areas

• 5G
• 5G - DoD 5G Program
• Space