RTX subsidiary Collins Aerospace has entered into three-year support agreements aimed at enhancing sustainment services for C-130 Hercules aircraft wheels and brakes, reinforcing fleet readiness across global operators. The agreements were signed with Integrated Procurement Technologies, S3 AeroDefense, and Derco, key partners involved in logistics and aircraft sustainment.
Under the deals, the companies will provide improved logistics coordination, enhanced hardware availability, and full lifecycle support for C-130 wheel and brake components. Collins Aerospace stated that the initiative is designed to improve supply chain responsiveness and operational availability for C-130 fleets over the next three years, supporting both military and humanitarian missions.
Collins’ wheels and brakes, incorporating its proprietary DURACARB carbon brake technology, are installed on more than 30,000 commercial and military aircraft worldwide. U.S. military and allied C-130 operators depend on rapid access to these components to sustain a wide range of missions, including combat resupply, disaster response, and humanitarian airlift operations.
Sustainment and modernization efforts for the C-130 platform have intensified in recent years. In January, Lockheed Martin’s Derco secured a performance-based logistics contract from the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency to increase spare parts availability and provide inventory and engineering support for the Hercules fleet. Additionally, U.S. government transfer programs continue to support allied air forces, including the Philippine Air Force’s receipt of a C-130H aircraft in February 2024 through the Excess Defense Articles program.
