Rockwell Collins was awarded a $27 million contract to activate a depot capability for service to the U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon HF-121C aircraft radio. The high-frequency (HF) radio provides secure, reliable, high-data-rate communications onboard naval aircraft using 400 W transmit power. The contract, which extends through 2020, is intended to reduce repair pipelines and waiting times for replacement parts for the HF parts, and will result in the creation of jobs related to HF-121C radio repair and maintenance.
“Establishing a depot capability allows our customers to service their own equipment and shorten turnaround time,” says Thierry Tosi, vice president and general manager for the Rockwell Collins’ Service Solutions group. “In addition, the capability allows for enhanced mission readiness and support to the warfighter.”
Such minimization of repair time will be an essential trend with the modernization and miniaturization of defense electronics systems during the next decade. Work on the radio systems will be performed at the Naval Air Station's Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (North Island, Cailf.). Speedy repair and maintenance of the HF-121C radios used onboard the P-8A Poseidon will mean increased support and equipment availability for warfighters.
The repair depot will operate with a three-phase approach: determining operating performance levels and assessing replacement parts and design methods needed to restore specified performance levels; executing transfer of design knowledge and tools from Rockwell Collins to the Navy; and finally, the development of a sustainment plan which will likely involve a military/private-party partnership.
