Upgrades Plus
SOF Fixed-Wing Recapitalization and
Conversions Will Supplement Fleet Upgrades
Through Budget Out Years.
by Marty Kauchak, SOTECH Correspondent
The operating tempo for SOF manned fixed-wing aircraft remains high, as does the demand for their presence in supported combatant commanders’ areas of responsibilities.
While USSOCOM has programmed a wide array of upgrades throughout its MC-130 and AC-130 fleets to increase the force’s lethality and availability, the command also envisions recapitalization and conversion of some legacy airframes as strategies to meet future demand.
REPLACEMENT EYED
The effects of age and corrosion are taking their toll on many DoD aircraft, including the MC-130E Combat Talon I and MC-130P Combat Shadow. Previous AFSOC efforts that validated requirements for replacement of both models are included in a larger, service recapitalization effort. “Our requirement has been combined with Air Combat Command’s (ACC) requirement to recapitalize its aging HC-130P/N inventory,” remarked Captain Alan Robertson, chief, MC-130 recapitalization, AFSOC. “That requirement has been reviewed and validated by the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. On November 20, 2007, the office issued the memorandum approving the combined requirements for AFSOC and ACC,” he added.
Candidates for a replacement effort include Lockheed Martin’s KC-130J, with mission modifications, and EADS’s A400M. The first A400M is in design and initial fabrication in the aircraft’s new, final assembly line in Seville, Spain, and remains scheduled to make its first flight in summer 2008, reported the EADS homepage.
“The final choice, or choices, will be made by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Air Force as part of an overarching strategy. It is AFSOC’s desire that only one aircraft replace our two variants and that aircraft be operational by 2012,” said Robertson.
USSOCOM has set aside over $605 million for tanker recapitalization during fiscal years (FY) 2008-13, stated the FYs 2008/2009 Budget Estimates, Procurement, Defense Wide, (P, DW) document published in February 2007. SOF-specific procurement items will include universal air refueling receptacle slipway installation, SATCOM radio, infrared detection set sensor, and combat systems officer station.
Beyond this acquisition strategy, a conversion plan, and upgrades and modernization programs will enable other SOF fixed-wing aircraft to more economically and efficiently operate well beyond USSOCOM’s budget out years.
CONVERTING TO GROW ONE FLEET
AFSOC is meeting its post-9/11 mission, in part, through an OSD-directed requirement to convert standard C-130H2 aircraft into additional MC-130W Combat Spear assets. “These improvements centered on providing those capabilities necessary to operate in the night and increased threat environments unique to SOF,” said Robertson.
Five of the many SOF-like capabilities that have been given to the converted aircraft are an aerial refueling system identical to that being purchased for the MC-130H Combat Talon II to support helicopter and tilt rotor-receiver aircraft; the ability to receive fuel from service strategic tankers including the KC-135 and KC-10; high speed ramp and door, to allow a full range of airdrop capability to support AFSOC’s ground and naval SOF counterparts; full night vision device compatible lighting to allow operations at night in threat and forward areas; and additional communications, sensor and countermeasures systems— including installation of an infrared detection system turret, large aircraft infrared countermeasures and SATCOM radios—to allow operations in probable, future threat environments.
The program office has delivered four MC-130W aircraft. A fifth is expected in February 2008. A total of 12 are expected to be delivered by March 2010.
“Production of this aircraft is unique in that the system program office at Robins AFB, Ga., functioned as the key integrator to install numerous existing capabilities on to the aircraft. They used a small business, TCS, to support the integration engineering, with the labor force coming from the maintenance professionals available at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins AFB,” pointed out Robertson.
TCS is a subsidiary of L3 Communications, and has an extensive history of providing manufacturing, acquisition, logistics, programmatic, and engineering support for the C-130, C-141, DHC-7, H-60, MH-53J, CV-22, H-1 and H-3 aircraft.
HELP FOR C-130S
The AC-130H and AC-130U gunships have done a yeoman’s job in providing critical precision engagement and close air support throughout different theaters of operations. A number of upgrades and modernization plans are rapidly moving forward for the two models’ fleets.
USSOCOM plans to spend about $59.2 million during FYs 2008-11 to procure 30 mm Bushmaster cannons and replace the AC-130J’s 25 mm Gatling guns and 40 mm Bofors guns on AC-130U aircraft, stated the command’s FYs 2008/09 budget estimates. Two guns per aircraft, and supporting systems and ammunition will be procured for eight airframes in 2008 and the same materiel for five aircraft in 2009.
The new Bushmaster cannon will provide increased lethality, accuracy and reliability over the existing weapons. The Bushmaster model fires 200 rounds a minute, faster than the 40 mm and a bit slower than the 25 mm guns it replaces.
“The program was initiated with the procurement of four additional AC-130U aircraft,” pointed out Air Force Captain Wes Ticer, USSOCOM, public affairs spokesperson. In December 2007 the program was completing its in-flight testing phase. “After successful test and checkout of the 30 mm gun system, USSOCOM plans to retrofit the remainder of the AC-130U fleet,” he added.
The upgraded AC-130Us will have its 30 mm cannons mounted on the aircraft’s port side and will retain their 105 mm cannons.
A Boeing-led industry team is performing the work.
An additional enhancement to the AC- 130’s lethality was started in March 2007 and remains under evaluation. Northrop Grumman of Linthcum, Md. was awarded an approximate $7 million contract modification from March 2005 for the demonstration of its Viper Strike munition as a stand-off precision guided munition on the AC-130 gunship.
Various avionics and sensor upgrades are planned during FYs 2008 and 09.
The command’s FYs 2008/09 budget estimate also sets aside funding of about $10.9 million for an AN/AVQ-19 replacement system on AC-130Hs. The modification provides eight kits that will replace the obsolete laser targeting and designating rangefinder. The AC-130U Gunship Multi-spectral System- 2 program is expected to receive about $42 million in FYs 2008 and 2009 to procure eight shipsets to replace deficient all-light level TV multi-spectral sensors.
USSOCOM plans to spend about $30 million in FYs 2008 and 2009 to address obsolescence, correct deficiencies and sustainment issues for other SOF C-130 sensors including the replacement of the obsolete AN/AAQ-17/17A Infrared Detection Set receiver and control converter on the MC- 130 H/P/W.
Lockheed Martin is completing an approximate $622 million contract through FY 2013 to support the Air Force’s Center Wing Box Replacement Program. The Warner Robins Air Logistics Center-based effort addresses the effects of corrosion and increased flight hours that have accelerated the need for center wingbox replacement on six service mission series aircraft including the AC-130U and MC-130H Combat Talon II. About $36.1 million is programmed to upgrade these two models’ center wingboxes and associated fittings.
The funding line titled C-130’s Low-Cost Modifications is one of the more inclusive elements in the command’s FYs 2008/09 budget estimates. USSOCOM stated its intentions to spend about $56 million through FY 2013 for low-cost modifications to MC- 130E/H/P/W and AC-130 H/U SOF-unique equipment to improve reliability and maintainability, address obsolescence and incorporate mission enhancements. Some of the many modifications planned support the MC-130P cargo handling system, MC-130H and AC-130U radar upgrades, fleet avionics and countermeasures system upgrades, and AC-130H/U gun system improvements—separate from the 30mm gun installation described earlier.
CV-22 TAKES FLIGHT
Following AFSOC’s receipt of its first CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft in March 2006, the service component has an ambitious plan for concurrently receiving the new aircraft and upgrading that fleet.
AFSOC will take delivery of “five CV-22 per year (with the exception of seven in FY12 and three in FY17) for a total of 50 CV-22 delivered by FY17,” said Lieutenant Colonel Ted Clements, chief, AFSOC CV-22 Systems Management Office.
The program is gaining momentum, as in calendar year 2007 alone, acquisition contracts were awarded for prime contractor Bell Boeing to provide six CV-22s. Enhancements to early production airframes of the CV-22 fleet will be installed through the Block 20 Upgrade program. The upgrade contract is expected to include “improved braking performance; emergency and reserve power upgrades; improved communications; improvements to the terrain-following radar; improvements to the digital map and improvements to the electronic warfare suite,” remarked Clements.
On December 21, 2007, DoD announced Phase 1 of the contract award. Bell- Boeing Joint Program Office, Amarillo, Texas, was awarded an approximate $8.5 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Phase I of the CV-22 aircraft Block 20 development and flight test effort for calendar year 2008. Bell-Boeing is expected to perform the nonrecurring engineering and program management required to begin efforts associated with the design, development, integration and test of CV- 22 Block 20 requirements, and CV-22 flight test engineering support. Work is expected to be performed in Philadelphia (60 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (20 percent); and Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. (20 percent). The contract’s work is expected to be completed in June 2008. ♦