October 15, 2026
A milestone installation highlights Stevens’ longstanding King Air avionics work and the Army’s effort to maintain C-12 mission readiness through 2050.
One of the U.S. Army’s C-12 Huron King Air aircraft now marks a significant milestone for Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems, LLC. In an October 13, 2026, news release, Stevens announced the completion of its 1,000th Garmin King Air G1000 NXi installation, performed at its Greenville, South Carolina, installation center.
The milestone connects two ongoing efforts: Stevens’ work upgrading King Air flight decks and the Army’s comprehensive avionics modernization program for its C-12 fleet. Stevens has completed more than 40 G1000 NXi installations on the Army’s C-12 Huron aircraft and serves as the fleet’s exclusive installer.
For the Army, these upgrades support a long-term objective of maintaining mission readiness through 2050. The Garmin G1000 NXi was selected as the fleet’s next-generation avionics solution, with Stevens awarded the contract to perform the installations.
Jim Williams, Vice President of Government Operations at Stevens Aerospace, said feedback from Army aircrews has been overwhelmingly positive. According to Williams, crews report that the Garmin retrofit, enhanced by the Autothrottle system, reduces cockpit workload, improves ease of operation and delivers outstanding flight performance. He described Stevens’ continued support of U.S. Army warfighters as an honor.
LTC (P) James B. Hickey, Project Manager, Fixed Wing, placed the milestone within Army Aviation’s broader transformation effort. He explained that replacing aging analog systems with reliable, data-enabled G1000 NXi technology helps mitigate obsolescence, reduce lifecycle maintenance burdens and improve operational readiness.
Hickey also emphasized the modernization’s role in giving Army fixed-wing aviators enhanced situational awareness and a decision advantage while reducing cognitive workload. Those improvements, he said, help crews execute complex missions more effectively in demanding and contested operational environments. He credited the collaboration among Stevens Aerospace, Garmin and Amentum for delivering modernized capability.
Stevens’ King Air avionics experience extends back to 2009, when it began installing Garmin G1000 Integrated Flight Decks following their release. Today, the company continues to complete installations every month at its two Garmin-authorized installation centers in Nashville, Tennessee (KMQY), and Greenville, South Carolina (KGYH).
Its work includes partial-panel through full-panel Garmin modifications, as well as Garmin’s Autothrottle/Auto-Land system for the King Air G1000 NXi.
Alongside its military, government and special-mission programs, Stevens maintains a nearly continual flow of G1000 NXi installations for King Air operators throughout the United States. The company describes these flight-deck upgrades as improving operator safety and efficiency.
Rob Reed, Director of Avionics at Stevens Aerospace, said his daily work with King Air operators has given him firsthand insight into how the G1000 NXi enhances the flying experience and aircraft capability. He noted that it remains the avionics solution Stevens recommends most often because of the performance, reliability and long-term value it delivers to customers.
With its 1,000th installation completed, Stevens’ announcement highlights both the scope of its King Air avionics work and the continued modernization of aircraft serving civilian and military missions.
Source: Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems, LLC, news release dated October 13, 2026. Adapted by King Air Nation.