Marshall Aerospace near to completing first SAAF C-130 upgrade
Date: 4 April 2000
The South African Airforce (SAAF) C-130 Upgrade Program currently being undertaken at Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge, UK, has entered the final stages of the project.
Having completed the complex integration ground tests and initial shake down flight testing, the final development phase has now been reached. The new digital autopilot has been successfully engaged in flight and testing continues which will culminate in the clearance of the Category II autoland capability.
In addition to the autopilot, the upgrade embodies large liquid crystal flight displays, navigation systems upgrade, integrated communications and self defence, all fed by a substantially enhanced electrical generation system. Marshall believes the upgrade will provide a major reduction in crew work load and corresponding improvement in operational capability. It guarantees another 20 years minimum life to the 1964 vintage SAAF C-130 aircraft.
Defence Systems Daily
