For more than six decades, the C-130H has carried out the world’s most demanding missions. Today’s threat environment is driving that mission set to expand, while airspace rules and operational costs tighten. The answer is not to retire a proven airframe. It is to transform the cockpit.
L3Harris is a trusted provider of C-130 aircraft modernization, delivering high-quality integrated solutions that enhance performance and extend fleet longevity. With an emphasis on fleet availability and mission success, the company offers tailored, mission-enabling solutions that deliver value over the entire lifecycle of the platform.
L3Harris has upgraded C-130 avionics since 1985. During that time, the company has committed more than 4 million labor hours across more than 18 major C-130 programs worldwide. That sustained focus makes L3Harris the most experienced provider of C-130 avionics modernization in the defense industry.
The message is direct: no other aerospace and defense contractor matches the depth, scale and execution record L3Harris brings to C-130 avionics upgrades.
An Urgent Challenge for Global Fleets
That experience matters as C-130 operators face increasing pressure to keep aircraft mission-ready. Many fleets still rely on analog cockpits that are obsolete, expensive to sustain and incompatible with modern airspace requirements. Parts availability continues to decline. Maintenance risk increases. Operational flexibility erodes.
A modern avionics upgrade changes that trajectory. Replacing aging systems with digital glass cockpit technology allows operators to extend the service life of C-130H aircraft for decades. Modernization reduces sustainment risk, lowers maintenance costs and restores reliability to aircraft that retain significant structural life. It preserves trusted airframes without the cost or schedule impact of recapitalization.
Meeting Global Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) and Air Traffic Management (ATM) Requirements
Compliance remains a critical requirement as global CNS and ATM standards continue to evolve. Aircraft that fail to meet these standards face restricted access to airspace. L3Harris avionics upgrades deliver full compliance, enabling C-130 aircraft to operate safely and legally worldwide during peacetime, crisis response and contingency operations. For globally deployed fleets, consistent airspace access remains essential.
The operational benefits of modernization are immediate. Modernized cockpits improve situational awareness, reduce crew workload and enhance mission effectiveness from the first flight. The cost benefits are equally clear. Avionics upgrades provide a faster and lower-cost alternative while delivering many of the operational advantages associated with new aircraft procurement. For operators managing constrained budgets and urgent requirements, modernization is the smarter path.
Proven Programs and Integration Expertise
Recent programs reinforce L3Harris’ execution record. The company was selected by the Royal Moroccan Air Force to modernize its C-130 fleet, demonstrating international confidence in its avionics expertise. In the United States, L3Harris continues work on the Air Force’s C-130 Avionics Modernization Program Increment II, a key effort to keep the Hercules viable in modern airspace and operational environments. L3Harris is the only company to have successfully integrated the Collins APS-7000 modern digital autopilot on a C-130H aircraft.
This work builds on a legacy of deep integration expertise. L3Harris has modernized and sustained C-130 mission systems supporting ISR, electronic warfare, command and control and special operations variants. That experience ensures avionics upgrades integrate with existing systems without extended aircraft downtime.
