KC-135 Refuelling F-16 Rockwell Collins has been awarded two contracts to provide service and support for the KC-135 Pacer CRAG (Compa...
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| KC-135 Refuelling F-16 |
Rockwell Collins has been awarded two contracts to provide service and support for the KC-135 Pacer CRAG (Compass, Radar and GPS) program.
The scope of the avionics repair package consists of nearly 4,000 line replaceable units across the fleet of 417 KC-135 aircraft and will be one of the largest repair contracts in terms of volume for Rockwell Collins in its 80-year history. This U.S. Air Force contract is a one-year base with three one-year options that solely covers the Rockwell Collins Multimode Weather Radar and is a step towards a collaborative, flexible longer-term sustainment solution.
Additionally, Rockwell Collins has been awarded a three-year, $4.8 million contract by the U.S. Air Force Air National Guard for service and support of its KC-135 Pacer CRAG avionics equipment.
The Pacer CRAG program represents the Air Force’s commitment to modernizing the KC-135 fleet to extend its functional life to 2040, which is when the airframe is scheduled to be decommissioned. The Pacer CRAG avionics upgrade to the KC-135 fleet is a commercial, off-the-shelf modification program that eliminates the need for a navigator on most missions.
Rockwell Collins was selected in 1995 as the prime contractor on the Pacer CRAG program to upgrade the KC-135 with compass, radar and GPS technology.
Subsequently in 1999, the company was selected as the prime contractor for the KC-135 Global Air Traffic Management (GATM) program, which enabled the aircraft to meet airspace mandates while addressing critical obsolescence issues. The Rockwell Collins KC-135 GATM system is fielded and operational, with 417 aircraft delivered on time and on budget, meeting 100 percent of the program’s documented systems requirements.
Recently U.S Airforce has started upgrading its KC-135 Tanker aircraft's fuel guzzling engines with fuel efficient F108 engines made by CFM.
