US Air Force Expands Fleet Power with Collins Aerospace NP2000 Propeller for C-130H Aircraft
The USAF has presently secured NP2000 enhancements for a total of 83 C-130H aircraft
Collins Aerospace has been chosen to provide NP2000 propeller systems for an extra 26 C-130H aircraft designated for the U.S. Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. The Air Force aims to modernize roughly 140 C-130H with NP2000 technology and has officially placed orders for NP2000 upgrades for 83 C-130H aircraft. Collins has already implemented the system on 16 Air Force C-130H units, including those for the Georgia, Nevada, and Wyoming Air National Guard.
“NP2000 integrates state-of-the-art technologies that grant operators improved thrust, decreased maintenance demands, and superior crew comfort,” stated Quinlan Lyte, senior director, Propeller Systems at Collins Aerospace. “For these significant benefits, the Air Force has prioritized NP2000 as a crucial element of its C-130H enhancement strategies.”
Equipped with eight composite blades and a sophisticated Electronic Propeller Control System (EPCS), NP2000 delivers a 20 percent boost in thrust during take-off, a 50 percent drop in maintenance labor hours, and a 20db noise reduction in the cockpit relative to older models. NP2000 is also operational with U.S. and global customers on the E-2 and C-2 aircraft. The system has amassed over 1 million flight hours since its introduction in 2004.
