L-3 Wins $104M for P-3C SMIP Refurb Work

P-3 with CG 54(click to view full) Extra effort ha been required to preserve the USA’s P-3C Orion maritime surveillance & patrol aircraft in light of airframes that were wearing out, coupled with increased demand for the plane that includes overland operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan, radar upgrades, and even weapons upgrades. Lockheed has even opened a new production line for the international fleet to cover wings that have to be replaced. Its 737-based successor the P-8A MMA, will not begin to enter service until 2011 at the earliest, and UAV supplementation via a Maritime version of Global Hawk or a successor system like the BAMS is still at least a couple of years away. In line with the USA’s efforts to preserve and upgrade its shrinking P-3C fleet, L-3 Communications Integrated Systems LP in Greenville, TX received a $104.1 ceiling-priced modification to previously awarded firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity multiple award contract N00019-05-D-0008. It exercises an option for the P-3C Sustainment, Modification and Installation Program (SMIP). Work will be performed in Greenville, TX (50%); Waco, TX (25%); and Birmingham, AL (25%), and is expected to be complete in December 2006. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current […]