Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Marietta, Georgia, is being awarded a not-to-exceed $141,936,871 value firm-fixed-price, undefinitized contract action for the modernization program of the 4+1 Hellenic Navy’s P-3B Orion Maritime Patrol (MP)/Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)/Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) aircraft.
The contract provides for the reactivation of one P-3B Orion aircraft and the procurement of hardware kits for the upgrade/modernization of four P-3B Orion aircraft to support a structural mid-life upgrade.
The total budget of the programme is estimated to reach 500 million dollars, although it is most possible that the modernization of the 4+1 Greek P-3B Orion aircraft will cost finally less money. Some 30% of the budget will be used for the Follow On Support programme.
The upgrade/modernization programme includes the structural mid-life upgrade of the aircraft, as well as the replacement of the electronic, radar, electro-optic systems and the Mission Management System.
The mid-life structural upgrade programme includes the extension of the service life of the aircraft by 15,000 additional flight hours.
This programme consists of a life extension kit replacing the aircraft outer wings, the center wing lower section and the horizontal stabilizer with new production components much lighter than the ones replaced, improving the performance of the aircraft by almost 10%.
In addition, this contract provides for phased depot maintenance, a Greek indigenous mission integration and management system, new avionics, and other ancillary hardware and services.
Work will be performed at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facilities in Marietta, Georgia (62%), at ISI Hellas facilities in Athens, Greece (15%), at HAI facilities in Schimatari, Greece (13%), at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facilities in Baltimore, Maryland (9%); and finally at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facilities in Greenville, South Carolina (1%), and is expected to be completed in July 2019.
The second phase of the Greek P-3B Orion aircraft upgrade/modernization programme includes the installment and integration of a new radar system, new avionics, new EO/IR surveillance system, new electronic warfare suite and Greek made mission integration and management system.
The Greek P-3B Orion will be equipped with
• The Maritime Mission Integration & Management System – M2IMS from ISIS Hellas
• New Interphone Communications System (ICS)
• CDU-7000 Control Display Unit
• Air Data Display Unit
• MFD-255 Multifunction Displays
• AN/APX-123 IFF Transponder
• AN/ASH-37 Structural Data Recording System
• Emergency Locator Beacon
• MLR-2020 VOR/ILS
• ELM-2022MR Multi Mode Radar
• MX-15HD EO/IR
• ELL-8385 ESM/ELINT
• Automatic Identification System (AIS)
• MDM-2202 Link-11
• AN/ARC-210 V/UHF Communication System
• AN/ARC-243 HF Communication System
The modernized aircraft will be able to carry, torpedoes, depth charges and air to surface missiles.