Air Force Awards $750K Contract Extension to DHi

Air Force Awards $750K Contract Extension to DHi

Robins AFB, GA (September 25, 2007) — Robins Air Force Base, in coordination with the C-130 Sustainment Group, the Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and Manufacturing Directorate (ARFL/ML), and the U. S. Air Force (USAF) Commercialization Pilot Program , has just awarded a $750K contract extension to Defense Holdings, Inc. (DHi) of Arlington, Virginia. This new effort, an SBIR Phase II Follow-On Contract, will support field-level testing and ongoing development of metal fiber brush (MFBs) technologies to improve the propeller de-icing systems on C-130 aircraft — critical to the continuing success of the C-130 mission. Successful completion of this work by DHi and its partner HiPerCon, LLC, will result in increased reliability, performance, and operational availability of the C-130 aircraft and a significant lifecycle cost savings to the fleet.

Presently, propeller de-icing systems employ problematic carbon brushes running on copper-beryllium slip rings to transfer current to rotating propeller blades. Unfortunately, carbon brushes wear relatively quickly, creating carbon dust that mixes with hydraulic fluid to create a conductive, flammable paste. This paste, in turn, causes arcing in slip ring assemblies, eventually resulting in damage, safety of flight, and repair issues, all of which drive substantial preventative maintenance costs.  Replacing carbon brushes with MFBs has demonstrated great promise in contributing to increased safety, greater aircraft operational availability, and reduced maintenance and lifecycle cost liabilities for the C-130 fleet.

The current DHi-HiPerCon effort will involve the testing and certification of the team’s Metal Fiber Brush technologies in preparation for a retrofit program that will significantly benefit the C-130 fleets of the USAF, USN, USMC, and USCG.

DHi is a world-class team of dedicated engineering professionals committed to developing and deploying innovative technologies to advance the national interest and improve the lives of all Americans.