Brazil restarts KC-2 program

Brazil has resumed the troubled KC-2 Turbo Trader program. In 2011, a contract was signed for four C-1A Traders, from the Boneyard, that would then be refurbished by Marsh Aviation, and turned into KC-2 Turbo Traders. The original Wright R-1820 engines would be replaced with Honeywell TPE331-14GR turboprops, with five bladed propellors, along with the cockpit being upgraded with an Astronautics electronic flight system.

The aircraft have been stored at Marsh Aviation in Mesa Arizona. The program was originally delayed because the Marsh upgrade line was closed after delivery of the last S-2 to the Forest Service, and it had to be restarted from scratch. Then the company was charged with Conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act by supplying OV-10 engines to Venezuela. The company was found not guilty, but Floyd Stilwell had to step down as President, and pay a $250,000 fine.

Marsh has now partnered with Elbit Systems of America's M7 division. Marsh will be the lead contractor, which will keep them from going bankrupt. First flight is scheduled for November 2017, with delivery in December of 2018. Flight crews are already receiving training on T-45s in the US, after which they will transition to the E-2/C-2 training, and fly T-44C Pegasus aircraft.

A contract amendment signed on 7 November by the Brazilian navy's directorate of aeronautics and Marsh Aviation revives a long-delayed programme to refurbish and re-engine four ex-US Navy Grumman S-2 Trackers.

The new contract terms also acknowledge the entry of Elbit Systems of America’s subsidiary M7 Aviation, of San Antonio, Texas, into the programme.

The original Brazilian Tracker contract was signed on 20 October 2011 covering the airframe refurbishment, re-engining and systems transformation of four ex-US Navy C-1A Traders into “KC-2” Turbo Traders. It also revived the C-1A fleet for military operations, a role that had been on hold since the US Navy retired the aircraft 26 years ago.

The Brazilian Navy’s São Paulo aircraft carrier due to its age is constrained in both catapult strength and flight deck length making the operation of the modern but much larger and heavier Northrop Grumman E-2D Hawkeye aircraft impossible.

www.flightglobal.com...

the airframes will need a thorough overhauling in regards to wing spars and landing gear attach points.Those navy jobs have a hard life...Avionic packages are pretty standard in regard to upgrades if the platform is built to accept an evolutional life.Turboprops are a good choice on engine upgrades as they are lighter therefore less stress on wings.

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