Military

CMC to Supply FMS for Boeing’s KC-10 Upgrade

By Tish Drake | October 8, 2010
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Esterline subsidiary CMC Electronics (CMC) has been selected to supply its CMA-9000 Flight Management System (FMS) for Boeing avionics upgrade of the U.S. Air Force’s KC-10 fleet of 59 tanker jets.

The KC-10 Tanker Fleet Upgrade Program will involve the installation of dual CMC CMA-9000 FMSs plus Multi-Function Control and Display Units, providing Precision Area Navigation (PRNAV) and FANS1 Datalink capability as well as several tactical functions that enhance the KC-10’s performance.

The five-year contract draws on design and development work performed by Boeing Defense, Space & Security and Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The first airplane will be modified and flight tested in 2012. Boeing will complete and deliver the final KC-10 modification in 2015.

The KC-10 upgrade will allow the fleet to comply with the forecasted 2015 FAA and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards for the Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) system. "As air traffic continues to increase, modern CNS/ATM systems become essential for communicating precise flight data and obtaining the most direct routing," said Mike Harris, Boeing vice president of Weapon Systems Modernization. "This upgrade is critical to the Air Force for pilots’ safety, mission effectiveness and lower operational costs."

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