ARINC Engineering Services contracted with Rockwell Collins to perform the initial installations of the Block 45 avionics upgrade on the U.S. Air Force’s KC-135 fleet, the company announced Wednesday. ARINC said the installations will begin in early 2011 with two prototype Engineering and Manufacturing Development airframes.
The upgrades include a new autopilot/flight director, radar altimeters, removal of 21 analog instruments and a modern large-format color digital engine instrument display in the cockpit. ARINC will perform the work at its aircraft modification facility near Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City.
The Block 45 digital avionics upgrade program for the KC-135 is designed to enhance reliability, maintainability, and supportability. It also fills capability requirements needed to support current and future navigation performance enhancements identified in the 2008 AMC CNS/ATM Roadmap.