Collins completes first upgrade of US Navy’s C-130T and KC-130T

The latest wheels and carbon brakes upgrade will enable C-130 users to lower maintenance time and cost.

Collins’ C-130 brakes are made of DURACARB carbon heat sink material. They allow the aircraft to clock 2,000 landings per overhaul.

This is eight times more than the 250 landings per overhaul allowed by the C-130’s existing system.

Furthermore, the brakes can manage high amount of energy and raise the safety margin for heavily loaded C-130 jets compared to aircraft’s existing equipment.

Collins claims that its boltless wheels feature unique ‘lock-ring design and higher fatigue life’ than the existing C-130 system.

According to the company, the combined wheel and brake assembly comprises 17% fewer parts than the C-130’s existing equipment. This simplifies maintenance and service.

Collins Aerospace Landing Systems vice-president Ajay Mahajan said: “At Collins Aerospace, we’re committed to keeping our warfighters safe while delivering the most efficient solutions to our customers to help keep their aircraft in the air.

“And that is exactly what our boltless wheels and carbon brakes will do for the US Navy.”

Collins is a provider of wheels and brakes for Army platforms, including the US Air Force’s (USAF) F-15, F-16, C-5, C-130 as well as Global Hawk fleets.

Last month, Collins Aerospace secured a contract from the USAF for the ‘B-52 Wheel and Brake System Improvement’ programme.

The company also completed wheel and brake upgrades for several global air forces.

More than half of all C-130s that are currently operational fly with Collins’ wheels and brakes.

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