ADF STAFF
The Tunisian Air Force is upgrading two of its Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The two planes flew to Paya Lebar Air Base in Singapore for upgrades by ST Engineering Defence Aviation Services.
The aircraft are being fitted with Honeywell’s Cockpit Display System Retrofit, which is available in three-display and five-display options with large format LCD displays, flight controls, air data and altitude sensors. Improvements also include digital instruments, a multifunctional display, and an array of peripherals such as weather radar, a traffic collision avoidance system and advanced flight controls, defenceWeb reported.
The retrofits have been designed to provide Tunisian Air Force pilots and flight crew with improved safety, better flexibility and efficiency, and easier maintenance, Honeywell said.
The Tunisian Air Force has two C-130H and one C-130B Hercules in service along with two C-130J-30 Super Hercules, which were delivered in April 2013 and January 2015. Ten other Hercules are in storage or preservation.
The C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport plane that first was produced in the United States in 1955. Updated versions still are being made. It was designed for airlifting troops over medium distances and to be able to land on short, basic airfields.
About 70 countries have acquired C-130s over the years. More than 2,500 of the planes have been produced. There are more than 40 variations on the standard C-130. Forbes magazine has predicted that the C-130 likely will become the first military aircraft in history to stay in continuous service for 100 years.