Kratos to upgrade CH-47F Chinook Avionics Trainers

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has been awarded a contract to upgrade CH-47F Chinook Avionics Trainers (CAT) in use at the US Army's 128th Aviation Brigade in Ft. Eustis, Virginia. The work was ordered under a contract with USfalcon as part of the Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD) SPOTS V contract.

The contract will see Kratos perform concurrency upgrade services to four CH-47F CAT simulators. The upgrade includes incorporating the Aircraft Product Improvement Program One (PIP1) to ensure concurrency of the simulators to the aircraft as well as other product life cycle and functional enhancements, such as networking the simulators together to allow students to perform more advanced maintenance scenarios.

Jose Diaz, senior vice president, Kratos Training Solutions, said: ‘The CH-47 is a critical asset for transporting troops and supplies, as well as providing combat support. The maintenance of the CH-47F is critical to today's army.

‘Based on our detailed knowledge of these simulators, coupled with the use of our advanced Software Integration Lab capability, device downtime will be minimised and student training will continue during the upgrade period.’

Kratos is the original equipment manufacturer of the simulators. The simulators are high fidelity hands on training systems that provide full task training through simulation of all avionics systems in fully integrated configuration within a fully immersive physical environment.

The CAT replicates the aircraft interior and exterior spaces with a simulation of all Line Replaceable Units necessary to support the 15N10 Avionics Mechanics programme of instruction. The CAT provides for training of specific tasks such as fault isolation procedures, remove and install tasks, system and subsystem familiarisation, servicing tasks and inspections, maintenance operational checks, and component identification.

Related Equipment in Defence Insight

CH-47F/MH-47G Chinook