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CMC Electronics To Provide FMS Upgrade On The KC-10 Tanker Aircraft |
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October 8, 2010 -
Esterline Corporation a leading specialty manufacturer serving the
aerospace and defense markets, announced that its Montreal-based CMC
Electronics (CMC) subsidiary has been selected by Boeing to supply the
Flight Management System (FMS), known as the CMA-9000, for the avionics
upgrade of the U.S. Air Force's KC-10 fleet of 59 tanker jets.
Brad Lawrence,
President and CEO of Esterline, said: "With our CMA-9000 FMS already
established on Military Trainer and Air Transport aircraft, this key
program will enable us to further position CMC as a leader for avionics
upgrade programs."
The KC-10 Tanker
Fleet Upgrade Program will involve the installation of dual CMC CMA-9000
FMSs plus Multi-Function Control and Display Units, providing Precision
Area Navigation (PRNAV) and FANS1 Datalink capability as well as several
tactical functions that enhance the KC-10's performance. |
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The KC-10 upgrade
will allow the fleet to comply with the forecasted 2015 Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) and International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) standards for the Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Air
Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) system, which permit shared access within
both civil and military airspace and enable tanker refueling operations
worldwide.
"As air traffic
continues to increase, modern CNS/ATM systems become essential for
communicating precise flight data and obtaining the most direct
routing," said Mike Harris, Boeing vice president of Weapon Systems
Modernization. "This upgrade is critical to the Air Force for pilots'
safety, mission effectiveness and lower operational costs."
The five-year
contract draws on design and development work performed by Boeing
Defense, Space & Security and Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The first
airplane will be modified and flight tested in 2012. Boeing will
complete and deliver the final KC-10 modification in 2015.
CMC's Flight
Management Systems are the solution of choice for a wide range of tanker
platforms and the preferred option of military operators such as the
British Royal Air Force, the French Arm?e de l'air and the Royal
Netherlands Air Force. The CMA-9000 FMS performs several key rendezvous,
orbit and tankering functions. It is well positioned to enable the
upgrade of many other older platforms to comply with ICAO standards for
flight in civil airspace as well as improve the operators' efficiency
for aerial refueling. |
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