Boeing C-130 AMP First Flight Includes Smiths Aerospace Avionics.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Smiths Aerospace (LSE:SMIN) played a key role in providing the avionics and flight management system for The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) successful first flight of the C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) aircraft. The flight took place on September 19 as part of the most comprehensive C-130 avionics modification ever conducted.

The first C-130 AMP aircraft, designated H2, successfully completed its maiden flight from Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas per Boeing's news release today. Boeing test pilot Mike Leone and U.S. Air Force pilot Maj. Frank Delsing conducted the flight, which lasted approximately three hours.

The aircraft is the first C-130 to undergo trial installations. Boeing inducted the aircraft in January 2005, after accepting it from Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala. Boeing also has inducted the second aircraft, H2.5, and has initiated the modification process.

The aircraft's new avionics system features digital displays and the 737 commercial airliner's proven flight management system from Smiths Aerospace, which provide navigation, safety and communication improvements to meet Communication Navigation Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) requirements. The CNS/ATM upgrade will allow the C-130 fleet to be deployed worldwide. Smiths is providing the following systems for the C-130 AMP valued at more than $250 million over the life of the program:

--Mission display processor (Michigan)

--Flight management system including the communications management unit and the terrain awareness warning system (integrated onto a single PowerPC) (Michigan)

--Multi-function control displays (Michigan)

--Integrated standby instrument system (Cheltenham)

--Flight data recorder/cockpit voice recorder (Michigan)

--Aircraft interface unit (Cheltenham)

--Mission display processor including digital map (Michigan and Maryland)

The C-130AMP provides enhanced digital avionics that increase situational awareness for the warfighter over old analog cockpits, dramatically increasing information available to aircrews at a glance, simplifying tasks and decreasing workload. Upgrade commonality brought by the AMP offers additional flexibility in assigning aircrews regardless of the model design type.

The Air Force initiated the C-130 AMP program to reduce the number of C-130 configurations in the fleet, including highly specialized versions in service with the Air Force Special Operations Command. U.S. Navy, Marines and international customers will be able to leverage work accomplished on the Air Force program to ensure their C-130 crews have the most capable C-130 aircraft available.

Smiths Aerospace, a part of Smiths Group, is a leading transatlantic aerospace systems and equipment company, with more than 11,000 employees and $2 billion revenues worldwide. The company holds key positions in the supply chains of all major military and civil aircraft and engine manufacturers and is a world-leader in digital, electrical power, mechanical systems, engine components and customer services.