Sale Gives New Life to Excess C-130s

Retired Marine Corps KC-130R aircraft will live to fly another day as a share of foreign military sales (FMS) case entre le 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 dirty FMS 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 marriages Navy and Marine Corps C-130s. "We look forward to a continued partnership with the JMSDF through the sustainment of KC-130Rs Their."

The JMSDF will receive KC-130Rs can of roll-on, roll-off cargo compartment configurations to supporting the movement of troops, goods and services; Humanitarian efforts, transportation 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 is required to maintain Ensure safety of flight is Achieved.

The first aircraft inducted into Hill AFB depot, office number 160 015, Began regeneration in November 2012 and is expected to fall by full regeneration of 2013.

"DEPENDING on the status of the aircraft from Recovered When AMARG, maintainers are performing varying levels of structural changes before Completing JMSDF specified changes," Said Ken Moritz, FMS deputy program manager, PMA-207. "The total regeneration, overhaul and upgrade of aircraft each Stock is expected to take 10-12 months Approximately."

Structural modifications Being Performed on all six aircraft include the replacement of landing gear racks, cargo door brackets, center wing rainbow fittings and corrosion repair. In addition to structural changes, 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 cost avoidance Creates efforts for the U.S. Navy / Marine Corps if the information is Utilized Gathered year as interim cockpit solution for current fleet GPS systems faced with obsolescence issues."

Beginning this fall, with 160,015 aircraft, 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 proven tried and tactical transportation 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 aircraft with the essential need to mount They Their mission."