Thai Royal Air Force To Get Upgraded C-130s From Rockwell Collins

Led by the Thai Aviation Industries (TAI), Rockwell Collins has completed the Thailand C-130 Avionics Upgrade Programme that has improved the cockpit and avionics on 12 Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) C-130 Hercules aircraft over the last five years. Officials said the upgrade includes new primary flight displays, Flight Management System, autopilot, communication radios, navigation sensors and surveillance systems including weather radar. Some of the other upgrade features are Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), Terrain Awareness and Warning System and digital map. The delivery of the final upgraded C-130 completes an avionics modernization programme which provides the RTAF with state-of-the-art capabilities consistent with the world’s leading C-130 operators. Dave Nieuwsma, Vice President and General Manager of Airborne Solutions for Rockwell Collins, said, “With the completion of this program, we have provided cockpit and avionics upgrades to more than 150 C-130 aircraft around the world”. The Rockwell Collins Flight2 avionics system provides the RTAF with unrestricted access to global airspace by meeting CNS/ATM mandates currently identified through 2020. The aircraft installation was designed and manufactured by Rockwell Collins, then installed and tested by TAI at Takhli Air Force base north of Bangkok.