Garmin marks 1,000th King Air retrofit with G1000 integrated flight deck delivered to the U.S. Army

The U.S. Army is standardizing its C-12 fleet with G1000 NXi integrated avionics.

Rhea-AI Summary

Garmin (GRMN) delivered its 1,000th G1000 integrated flight deck retrofit for King Air aircraft to the U.S. Army on October 6.

Stevens Aerospace and Defense upgraded the milestone aircraft, a C-12 Huron, with G1000 NXi and Garmin Autothrottle. The Army has upgraded more than 40 C-12 Huron aircraft with G1000 NXi. Garmin expects to certify Autothrottle and Autoland later in 2026 for King Air aircraft with supplemental type certificates, which approve aircraft modifications, allowing increased gross weights up to 16,500 pounds.

Positive

• Minor point1,000th King Air G1000 retrofit delivered to the U.S. Army on October 6.
• Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Garmin expects Autothrottle and Autoland certification later in 2026 for increased-gross-weight King Air aircraft up to 16,500 pounds.

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

King Air retrofit milestone: 1,000th retrofit Army C-12 upgrades: More than 40 aircraft Increased gross weight STC limit: Up to 16,500 lbs

King Air retrofit milestone

1,000th retrofit

G1000 integrated flight deck delivered to the U.S. Army

Army C-12 upgrades

More than 40 aircraft

U.S. Army C-12 Huron aircraft upgraded with G1000 NXi

Increased gross weight STC limit

Up to 16,500 lbs

Garmin expects to certify Autothrottle and Autoland for eligible King Air aircraft later this year

Key Terms

supplemental type certificate, flight management system, interstage turbine temperature

3 terms

supplemental type certificate regulatory

"the first supplemental type certificate for a King Air G1000 retrofit"

A supplemental type certificate (STC) is an official approval from aviation regulators that allows a change or upgrade to an already certified aircraft or its components, like installing new engines, avionics, or structural modifications. For investors, STCs matter because they create permitted markets for aftermarket parts, upgrades, and maintenance services—similar to a quality stamp that lets a shop legally sell and install a costly retrofit, affecting future revenue, licensing income, and the resale value of aircraft.

flight management system technical

"maintain selected airspeeds and flight management system speed constraints"

A flight management system is the onboard computer that plans and guides an aircraft’s route, manages navigation, fuel use, and flight performance—think of it as the plane’s GPS and autopilot brain combined. For investors, its quality and certification affect airline operating costs, safety records, fuel efficiency, and regulatory approval for new aircraft or avionics, all of which influence revenue, liability, and long-term competitiveness.

interstage turbine temperature technical

"protects against potential interstage turbine temperature and torque exceedances"

Interstage turbine temperature (ITT) is the measured temperature of the gas flow at a specific location between stages of a turbine in a gas turbine or jet engine. It is used to monitor engine operating conditions and health because it reflects combustion gas energy and how much thermal load later turbine stages and components must endure; manufacturers set normal ranges and maximum limits for ITT, and persistent readings outside those limits indicate possible engine stress, fuel/air imbalance, or the need for inspection or maintenance.

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Milestone G1000 NXi installation with Autothrottle completed by Stevens Aerospace & Defense

OLATHE, Kan., Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- /PR Newswire – Garmin (NYSE: GRMN) today announced the delivery of its 1,000^th G1000^® integrated flight deck retrofit for King Air aircraft, marking a significant milestone for the most successful flight deck retrofit program in aviation history. By replacing aging avionics with a modern, fully integrated flight deck, the upgrade gives the proven King Air aircraft new life, helping operators extend their useful service while gaining advanced capabilities, improved reliability and a much more modern flight deck experience.

"Reaching 1,000 King Air retrofits is a testament to the enduring value of this program and the trust customers place in Garmin and our authorized dealer network. From the original G1000 installation to today's G1000 NXi platform with advanced capabilities such as Garmin Autothrottle and Autoland, we have continued to expand the program to serve King Air operators and missions around the world."
– Carl Wolf, Garmin Vice President Aviation Sales, Marketing, Programs & Support

The milestone aircraft, a U.S. Army C-12 Huron, was upgraded by Stevens Aerospace and Defense with G1000 NXi and Garmin Autothrottle. The delivery underscores the long-standing success of Garmin's King Air retrofit program and its ability to provide commercial off-the-shelf avionics solutions for defense missions. The U.S. Army has upgraded more than 40 C-12 Huron aircraft with G1000 NXi thus far, standardizing the fleet with modern, integrated avionics. The 1,000th retrofit was delivered to the U.S. Army during an Oct. 6 celebration at Stevens Aerospace and Defense.

"To maintain mission readiness of the U.S. Army's C-12 fleet through 2050, the Army initiated a comprehensive avionics modernization effort. The Garmin G1000 NXi was selected as the fleet's next-generation avionics solution, and Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems was awarded the contract to perform the upgrades. Feedback from Army aircrews has been overwhelmingly positive. Warfighters report that the Garmin retrofit, enhanced by the Autothrottle system, reduces cockpit workload, improves ease of operation, and delivers outstanding flight performance, helping ensure the C-12 remains a capable and mission-ready platform for decades to come."
– Jim Williams, Senior Vice President at Stevens Aerospace

"The 1,000th Garmin G1000 cockpit installation is more than an industry milestone—it is a tangible example of Army Aviation's continuous transformation and commitment to delivering ready, resilient capability to the force. By replacing aging analog systems with reliable, data-enabled G1000 technology, we are mitigating obsolescence, reducing lifecycle maintenance burdens, and improving operational readiness. This modernization gives fixed wing Army Aviators enhanced situational awareness and decision advantage while reducing cognitive workload, enabling them to execute complex missions more effectively in demanding and contested operational environments. This achievement reflects the strength of our industrial triad—Stevens Aerospace, Garmin, and Amentum—and demonstrates how government and industry can rapidly deliver modernized capability that positions Army Aviation for the future fight."
– LTC (P) James B. Hickey, Project Manager, Fixed Wing

Garmin received the first supplemental type certificate for a King Air G1000 retrofit in November 2007 and evolved with the January 2017 certification of G1000 NXi. Since then, the program has expanded across multiple King Air variants, including the C90A/B, 200, B200, 300 and 350 series and C-12 variants.

King Air G1000 and G1000 NXi upgrades have been completed around the world, supported by foreign certification validations that make the modernized flight deck available to operators across a broad range of missions. The retrofit replaces legacy avionics with a fully integrated flight deck, including large-screen displays, reducing pilot workload and adding confidence in the cockpit through safety-enhancing features.

More recently, Garmin has introduced additional capabilities for eligible King Air aircraft, including Autothrottle and Autoland. Garmin Autothrottle automatically manages engine power from takeoff through landing to reduce crew workload. It helps maintain selected airspeeds and flight management system speed constraints, protects against potential interstage turbine temperature and torque exceedances, accounts for flap and landing gear position, responds to overspeed and underspeed conditions, and adjusts power following an engine failure. On properly equipped King Air aircraft, Garmin Autoland can take control of the aircraft if the crew is no longer able to perform their duties. The system selects a suitable airport, communicates with air traffic control, navigates to the airport, lands the aircraft and shuts down the engines, all without human intervention.

With the G1000 NXi retrofit solution, King Air owners can take advantage of features like Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT™) that includes a 3D exocentric view of the SafeTaxi^® airport environment to aid situational awareness while taxiing. SVT also displays 3D building footprints and increases topographical clarity, sharpened water and terrain boundaries, improved obstacle and powerlines display, enhanced runway and airport sign depiction and more. The system also includes Emergency Descent Mode (EDM) as a standard feature that is enabled automatically, in the event of a loss of aircraft pressurization.

Adding on to Garmin's revolutionary electronic stability and protection (ESP™) technology, one engine inoperative ESP assists the pilot in maintaining control in the event of a single engine failure. ESP pitch and roll limits will adjust to prevent excessive pitch or bank angles while the pilot performs single engine procedures.

Later this year, Garmin expects to certify Autothrottle and Garmin Autoland for King Air aircraft with increased gross weight STCs up to 16,500lbs. For additional information about G1000 and G1000 NXi upgrades for King Air aircraft, visit Garmin.com/KingAir.

Garmin products and services have revolutionized flight and become essential to the lives of pilots and aircraft owners and operators around the world. A leading provider of solutions to general aviation, business aviation, rotorcraft, advanced air mobility, government and defense, and commercial air carrier customers, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate. Recipient of the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy for Garmin Autoland, Garmin developed the world's first certified autonomous system that activates during an emergency to control and land an aircraft without human intervention. Visit the Garmin Newsroom, email our media team, connect with @garminaviation on social, or follow our blog.

About Garmin International, Inc. Garmin International, Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (NYSE: GRMN). Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Garmin, G1000 and SafeTaxi are registered trademarks and SVT and ESP are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Notice on Forward-Looking Statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. Such statements are based on management's current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2025, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). Copies of such Form 10-K are available at https://www.garmin.com/en-US/investors/sec/. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

MEDIA CONTACT: 
Mikayla Rudolph
913-397-8200
media.relations@garmin.com 

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SOURCE Garmin International, Inc.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

Which aircraft received Garmin's 1,000th King Air G1000 retrofit?

A U.S. Army C-12 Huron received the milestone retrofit, delivered on October 6. Stevens Aerospace and Defense completed the upgrade with G1000 NXi and Garmin Autothrottle.

When was Garmin's King Air G1000 retrofit first certified?

Garmin received the first supplemental type certificate in November 2007 for a King Air G1000 retrofit. G1000 NXi certification followed in January 2017. The program has expanded to the C90A/B, 200, B200, 300 and 350 series and C-12 variants.