Raytheon has been awarded a $100-million contract to conduct essential maintenance on a key component of the US Air Force’s HC-130J Combat King II personnel recovery aircraft.
The contract covers the retrofitting and repair of the AN/AAS-54 electro-optical/infrared system and its subsystems, which are critical to the aircraft’s performance.
Additionally, the company will address issues related to diminishing manufacturing sources, material shortfalls, obsolescence, reliability, and maintainability.
The AN/AAS-54 is a vital component of the HC-130J, enabling it to locate and track targets, downed aircraft, or personnel in distress — even in challenging environments.
It also provides the crew with detailed data on both the battlefield and surrounding areas, aiding in critical decision-making.
Work on the contract will take place in Texas, with completion expected by 2035.
About the Combat King II
A variant of the C-130 transport aircraft, the HC-130J is the US Air Force’s only dedicated fixed-wing Personnel Recovery platform.
Its primary mission is to rapidly deploy to austere airfields and denied territories for all-weather personnel recovery operations.
Powered by four Rolls-Royce turboprop engines, the aircraft can travel at 316 knots (585 kilometers/363 miles per hour) with a range exceeding 4,000 miles (6,437 kilometers).
It also boasts a maximum payload capacity of 35,000 pounds (15,875 kilograms).
The Combat King II can be reconfigured for humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and emergency aeromedical evacuation missions.
