Lockheed Martin delivers 64th AIP P-3C Aircraft

Lockheed Martin ^ | March 24, 2005 | Lockheed Martin

[Righty_McRight]

EAGAN, MN, March 24, 2005 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has delivered the 64th P-3C aircraft modified under the Anti-Surface Warfare Improvement Program (AIP) to the U.S. Navy. Lockheed Martin will update a total of five P-3C aircraft in 2005.

The AIP upgrades draw on the latest commercial-off-the-shelf and non-developmental technology to provide the next generation of mission capability for the U.S. Navy P-3C. Lockheed Martin has been the prime contractor and systems integrator since 1994 for the aircraft’s avionics, including non-acoustic sensors, communications, survivability and displays and controls.

New workstations, satellite communication capabilities, and enhanced radar, optical and infrared (IR) sensors significantly increase the aircraft's surveillance role. The capabilities provided have enabled the aircraft to be used extensively in all major U.S. combined forces operations, including those in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia, and others associated with the global war on terrorism.

"We are proud to continue providing these critical updates to the Navy," said Richard F. Ambrose, president of Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors' Tactical Systems line of business. "The P-3 aircraft are an integral part of our nation’s defense systems, and our upgrades provide enhanced capabilities that expand their role in both humanitarian and military operations."

The P-3 is the primary maritime surveillance aircraft operated by the Navy and 15 international allies. Its roles include anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; command, control communications, computers and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance; search and rescue; drug interdiction; and exclusive economic zone protection.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2004 sales of $35.5 billion.

Contact:
Media contact: Sheri Grone, Lockheed Martin 651-456-2210, e-mail: sheri.t.grone@lmco.com

[Righty_McRight]

[agitator]

You don't suppose this upgrade program had anything to do with us getting reamed up the you-know-what by the chinese a few years ago? Let's see how long it takes for us to bend over and take it again.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

The AIP upgrades draw on the latest commercial-off-the-shelf and non-developmental technology ...

An excellent decision. No longer paying outrageous prices to reinvent the wheel.

[dk/coro]

What a boondoggle. It would be OK if Naval Maritime air (VP)
still had a viable mission -- but, I submit that this is not the case.

Slowly, but, relentlessly, the staging bases (and missions) of these aircraft have been overtaken by world events. The ASW threat is virtually extant; and both the VP and the carrier based S-3 Vikings have assumed roles far removed from those demanded during the peak of the cold war.

Even in 1970, when charged by Adm. Hyland for developing the Strike/ASW mix to place aboard our CV's in PacFlt -- I was hard pressed to justify more than one squadron of the ASW aircraft in the mix.

There is intense lobbying ongoing within the Naval Aviation community to protect its programs (and billets). VP will be increasingly hard sell- due to the diminution of the current mission (and capability); and the incessant draw-down of forward logistical bases proximate to the potential global trouble-spots

IMO, the money could have been much better spent.

[tomnbeverly]

Wrong. The Littoral battle space imagery provided by today's P-3 is an invaluable tool to the warfighter. I was personally involved with these missions in Iraq and Afghanistan for OIF and OEF. Although the ASW mission is somewhat more relaxed there are still viable threats and the requirements for the P-3 are increasing not going away. The evolution the the Multi Mission Aircraft is exactly the right thing for the Navy.

[Gengis Khan]

PC-3Orion may top (Indian)Navy chief’s talks with US:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1369610/posts

[Wristpin]

That wasn't a straight P-3 that ended up on the deck in China. It was the EP-3E, a totally different mission aircraft.

[Wristpin]

The AIP is not strictly an ASW aircraft and is in high demand.

While the Soviets are gone, China will have a blue water Navy soon enough. It would be foolish to abandon ASW only to have to resurrect the capability later. I suppose you could pull old chiefs out of retirement to rebuild the program.

[ryan71]

I'm happy to see the P-3 stay.

The Orion's maritime capabilities are better than the carrier based S-3 Viking's. The long range and surveillance capabilities of the P-3 are impressive when fitted with the AN/APS-137(ISAR) radar.

I see an emerging ASW threat from China and others in the near future. I don't think we should give up the technology or especially the people with skills to operate these aircraft.

[agitator]

Thanks for the correction. I have a feeling we'll be bending over for china again in the near future though.