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Aging Avionics in Military Aircraft (2001) / Chapter Skim
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2 Magnitude of the Problem
Pages 14-20

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From page 14...
... forces has decreased, there has been a corresponding consolidation of the defense industrial base, including a consolidation of the suppliers of avionics components. The reduction in the number of prime contractors, combined with reduced procurement budgets, has led to a commensurate reduction in market opportunities for lower tier suppliers.
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From page 15...
... , the Air Force spent about $3 billion for depotlevel repairs of its aircraft. Approximately one-third of this, or $1 billion, was spent on maintaining and supporting avionics systems (operations and maintenance IO&M]
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From page 16...
... For example, O&M budget constraints on the Air Mobility Command have left insufficient funds for the C-5, C-141, and C-17 to fly the required number of flight hours to meet training requirements (U.S. Air Force, 2000a)
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From page 17...
... Air Force, 2000a.
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From page 18...
... Source: Air Force Magazine, 1999. Bombers 7~ ~ 74 ~ 7^ ~ 74 ~ O)
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From page 19...
... 10 Transport WC-130H/W 3 Weather reconnaissance C-130E/H/J Hercules 183 Transport Total 4,307 EC-130E/H Hercules 22 Electronic intelligence AC-130H/U Spectre 21 Gunship Air Force Reserve (AFRES) MC-130E/H/P Hercules 66 Special operations A-10 Thunderbolt II 27 Close air support NC-130 Hercules 4 Test and evaluation OA-10 Thunderbolt II 27 Forward air control C-135A/B/C/E 7 Transport B-52H Stratofortress 9 Strategic bomber EC-135 12 Electronic intelligence C-130 Hercules 112 Transport OC-135 3 "Open Sky" Treaty C-141B Starlifter 44 Transport RC-135 20 Reconnaissance C-SA Galaxy 32 Transport KC-135 249 Tanker F-16C Fighting Falcon 56 Fighter/attack NKC-135 2 Tanker F-16D Fighting Falcon 8 Fighter/attack C-137B/C 6 VIP transport HH-60G Black Hawk 21 Special operations/ C-141B Starlifter 95 Transport search and rescue E-3B/C Sentry 32 AWACS KC-135E/R 75 Tanker E-4B (Boeing 747)
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From page 20...
... Although the committee does not have specific data linking the decline in readiness to aging avionics, the fact that avionics maintenance accounts for approximately onethird of total aircraft maintenance costs supports this conclusion. Air Force officials from the Air Combat Command and Air Mobility Command interviewed by committee members confirmed the linkage (personal communications with Brig.
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Key Terms

  • air mobility
  • avionics components
  • fighting falcon
  • support costs
  • mobility command

  • air combat
  • combat command
  • national guard
  • force reserve
  • air national

  • air control
  • close air
  • insufficient funds
  • budget request
  • avionics modernization

  • michael wooley
  • force management
  • force officials
  • life cycles
  • supply dod

  • active air
  • specific data
  • control center
  • spent strictly
  • informed program

  • personal communications
  • accelerating pace
  • transport aircraft
  • tier suppliers
  • electronic components


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