Avionics experts are working together with Lockheed Martin Corporation to upgrade embedded computers in Primary Flight Displays aboard the C-130 Super Hercules aircraft in an effort to improve capability and stave-off component obsolescence. Five CMDUs serve as Primary Flight Displays providing situational awareness for the flight crew aboard the C-130J.
The CMDU is a sunlit readable display that is night vision compatible. Officials of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Centre at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, have announced a $21.6 million contract to the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics to do the avionics display work on the C-130J.The contract is for the diminishing manufacturing sources solution for CMDUs and MFCUs aboard the C-130J aircraft. The contract modification re-design effort for the CMDU and MFCD is to replace the display’s obsolete common central processor and graphics processor chip sets.
The CMDU, manufactured originally by L3 Display Systems in Alpharetta, Ga., is a 10.4-inch viewable Active-Matrix Liquid Crystal Display (AMLCD)-based smart display with embedded processing and graphics processing.
On this contract, Lockheed Martin will do the work in Marietta, Ga., and should be finished by September 2015. This contract includes 15 per cent Foreign Military Sales from Norway, Israel and Kuwait.