U.S. Navy and Thales restore TACAN navigation system readiness after amplifier shortages disrupted deliveries and fleet maintenance

The U.S. Navy and Thales have cleared a production and maintenance backlog affecting high-power amplifiers used in AN/URN-32 and AN/URN-33 TACAN navigation systems. A cross-service team aligned supplier production lines, restored component flow and normalized lead times after shortages disrupted new deliveries and fleet repairs. Because TACAN provides aircraft with bearing and distance information for precise navigation to ships and shore stations, the recovery improves readiness across Navy and Coast Guard users while reducing the risk that a single supplier bottleneck will sideline otherwise serviceable equipment.