Agadir – US defense and aerospace company L3Harris Technologies has completed inspections on the first Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) C-130 aircraft under a multi-year modernization program, marking a key step in efforts to extend the fleet’s operational life and upgrade its capabilities.
According to L3Harris, the aircraft is currently undergoing maintenance and repairs at the company’s facility in Waco, Texas. The work includes the installation of a new standby instrument and a digital engine display upgrade.
The company said the modernization program is moving into its execution phase, with the second RMAF C-130 scheduled for induction this fall and a third aircraft expected to enter the program later this year.
The third aircraft will receive a full avionics upgrade, including a complete digital cockpit, L3Harris said.
The modernization program aims to transform Morocco’s legacy C-130 fleet into modern, mission-ready aircraft while extending their operational service life by decades. L3Harris said the approach provides advanced digital capabilities at a lower cost than replacing the fleet with new aircraft.
Work at the company’s Waco facility includes aircraft modifications, program depot maintenance, engine overhauls, and logistics support.
According to L3Harris, these upgrades are designed to allow the aircraft to spend more time carrying out missions and less time undergoing maintenance, while keeping the C-130s operational for decades beyond their originally expected service lives.
Multi-year modernization program
In July 2025, L3Harris announced that it had been awarded a multi-year contract to modernize multiple C-130 aircraft operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force.
The company said the program supports Morocco’s efforts to sustain and modernize its existing airlift fleet and ensure that the aircraft remain mission-ready for years to come.
L3Harris said the program draws on more than four decades of experience modernizing C-130 aircraft for the US Air Force, US Coast Guard, and international customers.
The company’s C-130 modernization work includes integrating digital technologies into existing aircraft while preserving established mission systems.
L3Harris said its experience includes delivering 10 aircraft ahead of schedule to the US Coast Guard and developing an integrated data package for the aircraft.
The company also said it was the first to successfully integrate the Collins APS-7000 digital autopilot onto a C-130H aircraft.
L3Harris said its modernization approach focuses on replacing aging cockpit systems with digital technologies designed to improve situational awareness, mission effectiveness, and long-term maintainability.
By upgrading existing aircraft rather than replacing them, the company said operators can extend the service life of their fleets while introducing enhanced capabilities more quickly and at a lower cost.
