The Air Force on June 4 awarded L3 Technologies [LLL] a $499.5 million contract to provide an avionics upgrade for 176 C-130H Hercules aircraft.

The competitive fixed-price-incentive-firm contract involves avionics upgrades for the Air Force National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command’s fleet of C-130H military transport aircraft. 

A one of a kind C-130H Hercules aircraft assigned to the Wyoming Air National Guard is seen flying, Jan. 6, 2018 at Cheyenne Regional Airport. The aircraft is the first of the legacy H-model C-130 fleet to be modified with upgraded T-56 Rolls Royce 3.5 engines, NP2000 eight-bladed propellers and electronic propeller controls. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Charles Delano)

It provides for engineering and manufacturing development through production, and includes training and logistics requirements, according to the Tuesday contract announcement.  Work will be performed predominantly in Waco, Texas, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2029. Six offers were received, according to the announcement.

Fiscal 2019 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $37.4 million are being obligated at the time of award. Lockheed Martin [LMT] manufactures the C-130 aircraft.