Lockheed Martin, MARIETTA, Ga. — The U.S. Department of Defense, the Royal Air Force, the Italian Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force have signed a contract with Lockheed Martin valued at approximately $20 million to collaborate on defining a C-130J avionics and hardware block upgrade program.
With more than 100 C-130Js now in service worldwide, the operators are seeking to maximize the inherent potential of the aircraft. The C-130J is at the leading edge of transport aircraft technology, and as such, operators flying the aircraft want to be fully engaged in the spiral development of future capabilities.
Known as Cooperative Systems and Software Upgrade Requirements Management (COSSURM), the three-year program will ensure that enhancements and upgrades to areas such as radio communications, aircraft diagnostics displays and collision avoidance systems will be shared across the user community. It is likely that other C-130J operators will sign on to the COSSURM program as they receive their aircraft, and future customers will join COSSURM in turn.
