Flying around in the deserts of the Middle East, where the daytime temperature can reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit, can take its toll on military aircraft’s electronics.
That is one of the reasons why the US Navy launched the Land-based Air Conditioner (LBAC) program, which is developing next-generation equipment to cool the electronics onboard US Navy and US Marine Corps aircraft when they return to base.
The Navy awarded a $21.4 million contract to JBT Corp. in Chicago, IL to produce 130 LBAC units and support equipment…
JBT AeroTech’s Jetway business unit developed and tested the LBAC unit over the past 2 years. The trailer-mounted unit is capable of cooling the electronic systems of the Navy and Marine Corps fleet of C-130 and C-40 transport aircraft, C-9 passenger jet, and P-8 and P-3 maritime patrol aircraft during ground operations and maintenance.
In addition to the Navy contract, JBT received a contract to supply trailer mounted air conditioning units to the US Air Force.