The purpose of the C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) is to lower the cost of ownership of the U.S. military's C-130 fleet, while complying with the Air Force Navigation and Safety (Nav/Safety) Master Plan, Required Navigation Performance requirements, and other applicable Global Air Traffic Management (GATM) requirements. This will be done through a cockpit modernization program that replaces aging, unreliable equipment and adds equipment necessary to meet Nav/Safety and GATM requirements. New equipment is intended to lower the cost of ownership by reducing cockpit crew manning, increasing aircraft reliability, maintainability, and sustainability as well as the number of different aircraft configurations.

The C-130 AMP should also provide an improved precision airdrop capability for the combat delivery fleet, meet Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS) requirements, and improve the C-130's precision approach and landing capability. This program also provides the interfaces necessary to integrate real time information in the cockpit. A standard cockpit layout is planned allowing crewmembers to be trained to fly in one aircraft type and required to undergo mission qualification only when reaching their new units-unlike the current situation.