L-3 Communications,
EDMONTON: SPAR Aerospace Limited (L-3 SPAR), a subsidiary of L-3 Communications, was awarded a contract to design and install an Electronic Warfare Self Protection system (EWSPS) for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130 fleet of five aircraft.
This contract is an add-on to the six-year Life Extension Program (LEP) awarded to L-3 SPAR in December 2004 by the New Zealand Ministry of Defence. This LEP contract is the single most comprehensive avionics, mechanical systems and structural refurbishment program ever performed on a C-130H aircraft. A centre wing refurbishment will also be carried out as part of this program to address one of the major life-limiting elements on the C-130 Hercules, centre wing structural fatigue and cracking. Once the updates are completed the RNZAF C-130 fleet will be one of the most modern in the world and will be able to safely operate beyond the predicted withdrawal date of 2017.
“We are pleased that RNZAF has entrusted us with this additional upgrade on their C-130 fleet. The Electronic Warfare upgrade for the RNZAF fleet builds on our successful track record of installing them on Canada's Hercules aircraft,” said Patrice Pelletier, President of L-3 SPAR. “With C-130s increasingly thrust into trouble spots, the Electronic Warfare Self Protection system is becoming a requirement for operations in these world hotspots. We welcome the opportunity to support C-130 operators with our EWSPS integrated solution.”
“We chose SPAR Aerospace to carry out the Electronic Warfare upgrade because they designed a cost effective solution that meets our requirements at an affordable price,” said Kevin McMahon, New Zealand's Assistant Secretary of Defense. “We also enjoy the added convenience of being able to do this work in concurrence with the ongoing Life Extension program, which will allow us to return our aircraft to active service much more quickly.”
SPAR Aerospace, a division of L-3 Communication Integrated Systems, is one of Canada's leading aerospace companies and is a Lockheed Martin approved C-130 Hercules aircraft service centre – the only one in North America outside of Lockheed Martin itself. L-3 SPAR's corporate headquarters are located in Edmonton, Alberta, with additional facilities in Trenton, Ontario and Venice, Italy. With approximately 600 employees across Canada, L-3 SPAR is a globally competitive market leader of MRO and Aircraft Life Extension Solutions for air mobility platforms. L-3 SPAR serves customers from Canada, the United States, Europe, South America, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.
