Hamilton Sundstrand wins C-5 APU business

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. (Marietta, GA) selected Hamilton Sundstrand (San Diego, CA) to supply auxiliary power units (APU) for the U.S. Air Force's C-5 Galaxy upgrade program.

Hamilton will supply its APS3400 APU, a derivative of a commercial unit used on aircraft such as the Airbus A319, A320, and A321. The new APU will provide the power necessary to start the aircraft's new General Electric CF6-80C2 engines, plus provide additional airflow for ground air-conditioning. Expected to be worth more than $110 million, the contract also includes logistics support.

This award is part of the second phase of the Air Force's modernization plan for its C-5 fleet. The program's aim is to upgrade the aircraft with modern commercial engines and systems and minor structural enhancements to keep the aircraft flying until at least 2040.

The initial phase of the modernization plan, awarded to Lockheed in January 1999, involved avionics upgrades including new digital flight control and communication-navigation systems and liquid crystal flat panel displays.

Edited by David Robb
Managing Editor, AerospaceOnline.com