Retired
Marine Corps KC-130R aircraft will live to fly another day as part of
a foreign military sales (FMS) case between the U.S. Navy and Japanese
Maritime Self Defense Force. Six KC-130R excess defense articles, extra
to the needs of the U.S. government, are on a journey to restoration
and active-duty status with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force,
or JMSDF. |
“This
FMS sale supports a global strategic initiative for preserving the security
and stability of the Asia-Pacific region,” said Capt. Michelle
Guidry, program manager, Tactical Airlift, Adversary and Support Aircraft
program (PMA-207), which manages Navy and Marine Corps C-130s. “We
look forward to a continued partnership with the JMSDF through the sustainment
of their KC-130Rs.”
The JMSDF will receive KC-130Rs capable of roll-on, roll-off cargo compartment
configurations to support the movement of troops, goods and services;
humanitarian efforts; transport of senior leaders; and medical evacuation.
Currently, four aircraft have been recovered from section five of Davis-Monthan
Air Force Base, Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, Tuscan,
Ariz., also known as AMARG, and inducted into the depot at Hill Air
Force Base, Ogden, Utah, for phased maintenance interval regeneration.
Using historical data from previous U.S. Navy depot maintenance, the
PMA-207 FMS team determined what maintenance is required to ensure safety
of flight is achieved. |
The
first aircraft inducted into Hill AFB depot, bureau number 160015, began
regeneration in November 2012 and is expected to complete regeneration
by fall of 2013.
“Depending on the condition of the aircraft when recovered from
AMARG, maintainers are performing varying levels of structural modifications
before completing JMSDF specified modifications,” said Ken Moritz,
FMS deputy program manager, PMA-207. “The total regeneration,
overhaul and upgrade of each aircraft is expected to take approximately
10-12 months.”
Structural modifications being performed on all six aircraft include
the replacement of landing gear supports, cargo door supports, center
wing rainbow fittings and corrosion repair. In addition to structural
modifications, the Japanese will receive thirty overhauled T56-A-16
engines and digital cockpit upgrades to include a digital GPS.
“The Japanese Navy is assuming responsibility for the non-recurring
engineering efforts required to incorporate a new digital GPS onto JMSDF
aircraft,” Moritz said. “This effort creates cost avoidance
for the U.S Navy/Marine Corps if the information gathered is utilized
as an interim cockpit solution for current fleet GPS systems faced with
obsolescence issues.”
Beginning this fall, with aircraft 160015, CAE, Inc. will provide 6-8
weeks of initial pilot training onsite at Davis Monthan AFB, as well
as 10 weeks of classroom training for aircrew and maintainers at the
CAE facility in Tampa, Fla.
“Training is the last step before aircraft delivery,” Moritz
said. The U.S. Navy plans to deliver the first aircraft to Atsugi, Japan
by March 2014 and the sixth aircraft one year later.
“We are on our way to delivering a tried and proven tactical transport
platform to one of our key allies,” Guidry said. “C-130s
are essential to our military forces, which is why we are happy we can
provide the JMSDF with the essential aircraft they need to support their
mission.”
Source: NAVAIR |
