As platforms age, OEM support for sustainment diminishes and end-users tasked with maintaining operational readiness are faced with critical supply chain deficits. Kellstrom Defense offers its military customer base legacy aircraft solutions that address these shortfalls. We are a global provider of comprehensive support for U.S. manufactured legacy defense platforms including fighters, transports, patrol aircraft and helicopters.

Kellstrom Defense is a stocking distributor of US Department of Defense and OEM approved/Hologram components. Agreements with key industry partners to support this platform, including Original Equipment Manufacturers, play a vital role in the company’s commitment to its “Total Support” approach to platform sustainment. Kellstrom Defense has identified the major C-130 distribution channel deficits and has partnered with providers to bridge that gap. We collaborate with our partners and customers to establish and maintain availability for a broad range of components.

In-house Repair Capabilities

Kellstrom Defense owns and operates an FAA-approved and Honeywell and AMETEK certified repair station specializing in the complete repair and overhaul of Accessory Class III, Instrument Class I, II, III, and IV products, as well as various instruments in support of U.S. manufactured, legacy military aircraft.

Capabilities extend beyond repairs to include:

• Tooling development
• Engineering design
• Fabrication

Components include, but are not limited to:

• Instruments
• Hydraulics
• Pneumatics
• Fuels
• Landing gear
• Wheels and brakes
• APU
• Mechanical accessories
• Electro-mechanical accessories

Repair Management: Leveraging in-house capabilities and qualified network of resources 

Kellstrom Defense offers a full spectrum of repair capabilities to its customers.

Our dedicated group of experts have a combined experience of over seventy years in the aviation industry. We have established strategic alliances with Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) service centers around the world.

Advantages associated with a single point repair management solution:

• Single point of contact
• Regulatory administration
• Finance administration
• Warranty management
• Economies of scale

We team with Lockheed Martin approved sources to offer a number of engineering & manufacturing solutions designed to reduce traditional replacement costs and lead times of aging airframe components. Our experience on the C-130 platform encompasses both knowledge and capability across many of the airframe elements of the aircraft including the manufacture of numerous airframe components. This has afforded us substantial experience working within the parameters of the OEM’s quality and technical documentation, and enabled us to provide solutions for challenges unique to the C-130’s lifecycle.

In an effort to offer maximum benefits from our “Total Support” business model, we work with our Customers to establish short and long term program packages customized to specific sustainment requirements and budget limitations. Current programs include:

Contractor Logistics Support (CLS)

We offer our Customers comprehensive parts management for F-5 fleet sustainment in collaboration with their depot maintenance partners.

Rotable Repair Program

We offer rotable inventory management programs including exchange pools for systems and sub-systems: hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, fuel and engine, etc.

Life Extension/Sub-system Upgrades

We offer system modernizations designed to extend service life by replacing obsolete systems and components with modern solutions.

SHORT-POD® APU Upgrade Kit

Kellstrom Defense’s SHORT-POD APU modernization kit is approved and certified by Lockheed Martin for replacement of GTC85-71 and ATM systems on pre-1974 C-130B-H aircraft.  The SHORT-POD APU upgrade eliminates obsolescence and under-performance issues associated with GTC85-71A and air turbine motor system by replacing them with a modern GTCP85-180L engine, which delivers improved performance and reliability, while reducing maintenance costs.  The kit contains all parts needed for the modernization including new engine, airframe components, cowling, control panel, hardware, wiring, and manual supplements for IPC, MM and Flight manual.   Engineering support for installation as well as system training for ground and flight crews is available from Kellstrom Defense.
 
The SHORT-POD APU Upgrade Kit is available exclusively through Kellstrom Defense and offers C-130 operators commonality with C-130H APU Systems.  

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