casey Posted August 7, 2016 Share Posted August 7, 2016 The US Air Force's (USAF's) Lockheed Martin-BAE Systems EC-130H Compass Call wide-area coverage electronic attack and offensive counter information aircraft has received an avionics upgrade aimed at boosting its navigation capabilities, the service announced on 5 August. The Compass Call avionic viability program (AVP) upgrade revitalizes the aircraft's cockpit with liquid crystal displays at a cost of about USD45 million over three years, Major Gerardo Sanchez, the 42nd Electronic Combat Squadron assistant director of operations, said in a statement. "With the new upgrades, we can grab the information with the push of a button," Maj Sanchez said. "It increases the pilot's situational awareness tenfold." Two upgraded aircraft have arrived at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona for operations with the 55th Electronic Combat Group, and two more scheduled for delivery. The entire fleet of 14 aircraft is expected to receive AVP upgrades. The Compass Call was designed to perform tactical command, control and communications countermeasures missions. It uses noise jamming to prevent enemy communication or degrade the transfer of information essential to command and control. Electronic attack on early warning and acquisition radars is a secondary role. The EC-130H has a crew of 13, with 4 flight crew, and 9 system operators. Having entered service in 1982 and first seen in combat in 1989 as part of Operation 'Just Cause' in Panama, the EC-130H has flown more than 10,400 combat sorties totaling some 64,200 hours. Source: http://www.janes.com/article/62809/c-130h-compass-call-gets-navigation-upgrade View full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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