L3Harris has completed the initial inspection phase for the first Royal Moroccan Air Force C-130 undergoing modernization in the United States. The program is intended to keep Morocco’s existing Hercules aircraft operational for longer by combining maintenance work with avionics improvements.The aircraft is being serviced at L3Harris’ Waco, Texas, facility. Current work includes maintenance and repairs, as well as the installation of a new standby instrument and digital engine display.The modernization effort will continue with additional aircraft. A second Moroccan C-130 is expected to enter the program in the fall, while a third aircraft is scheduled for work later in the year. Unlike the first aircraft, the third example will receive a more comprehensive avionics modernization package featuring a fully digital cockpit.L3Harris says the project should improve the availability of Morocco’s transport fleet and help the country extend the useful life of its existing C-130s. This approach allows the Royal Moroccan Air Force to maintain its airlift capability without immediately having to replace the older aircraft.The modernization effort stems from a multi-year contract awarded by Morocco in July 2025. The agreement covers multiple C-130 aircraft and includes avionics upgrades, depot maintenance, engine overhaul work and additional support services. The program is expected to remain active through 2029.The Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules is a four-engine tactical transport aircraft designed to operate in a wide range of conditions. Its ability to use relatively short and less-developed runways has made it a key platform for military airlift missions involving personnel, cargo and specialist operations.L3Harris has supported C-130 operators for more than four decades, including the US Air Force, US Coast Guard and international customers. The company is also the prime contractor for the US Air Force’s C-130 Avionics Modernization Program Increment 2.In another C-130 modernization effort, L3Harris integrated the Collins APS-7000 digital autopilot into a C-130H. The company said the integration represented the first successful installation of the system on that aircraft variant.
