Lockheed Installing 7 Mission Systems for Pakistan’s P-3s

Pakistani P-3
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Lockheed Martin Corp. Maritime Systems and Sensors in St. Paul, MN received a $186.5 million ceiling-priced modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-06-D-0012) for the fabrication, integration and testing of 7 P-3 aircraft missions systems for the Government of Pakistan under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Greensville, SC (90%) and Eagan, MN (10%) and is expected to be complete in July 2011. The contract is part of a larger P-3 buy worth up to $970 million, and according to Lockheed’s February 13, 2007 release, 1 aircraft has already been delivered. The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD issued the contract.

This modification includes a fully capable Inverse Synthetic-Aperture Radar ISAR/SAR, Electronic Support Measures (ESM), acoustic system, Electro-Optical/Infra-Red system, communication system and Inter-Communication System (ICS). In addition, this modification includes the installation of P-3 mission systems into the Orion aircraft. Retired Indian Commodore RS Vasan’s “The impact of induction of the P3C Orion Aircraft on the Indian Navy’s Preparedness: An Assessment” is an excellent source for those who wish to put these activities in context and understand the regional military implications of Pakistan’s expanded P-3 fleet and recent Harpoon missile purchases.

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