Article Posted on : - Sep 12, 2011

US Air Force C-130 Hercules.

WARNER ROBINS, GEORGIA (BNS): The US Air Force has awarded a $23 million contract to BAE Systems to design and test mission computers for 37 C-130 aircraft.

Under the contract, the company will develop, qualify and test the new computers, integrate existing software, and manufacture the kits the Air Force uses for final installation.

"This win further strengthens our position in the market for developing and upgrading aircraft mission computers," Gordon Eldridge, vice president and general manager of Aerospace Solutions at BAE Systems Support Solutions, was quoted as saying in the company news release.

The new contract for the computers was awarded by the Air Force Materiel Command at Warner Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.

The new mission computers will replace the current versions on about 20 MC-130H variants and 17 AC-130U variants used by Special Operations Forces.

BAE Systems will also conduct ground and flight testing for the computers.

The work will be conducted at BAE Systems facilities in Warner Robins and San Antonio, Texas, and at various government locations.