India, Pakistan and Taiwan also seen as possible customers for the US Navy's planned Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft
India, Pakistan and Taiwan are looking to acquire surplus US Navy Lockheed Martin P-3s to meet their maritime patrol aircraft anti-submarine warfare (MPA/ASW) requirements.
Taiwan, which last year rejected a Lockheed Martin proposal to acquire new-build P-3s, has begun negotiating with the USA the acquisition of at least eight used aircraft. Lockheed Martin officials say Taiwan has already received price and availability information for eight P-3s and recently completed a site visit to inspect the aircraft.
Taiwan plans to budget for the procurement by the end of May, sign a letter of agreement by the end of September and launch the programme in January 2005.
India has also inquired about purchasing at least eight P-3s from the USA. Lockheed Martin officials say the first requests were submitted in the second half of last year, but the Indian navy has not yet selected a platform for its new MPA/ASW requirement. Other manufacturers, including ATR, Embraer and Saab, are also pitching their missionised MPA products.
Lockheed Martin officials say neighbouring Pakistan, which operates two P-3 MPAs after losing one in an accident, is also looking for up to two more aircraft.
Lockheed Martin also hopes to sell India, Pakistan and Taiwan a mission system upgrade and structural enhancement package if they go ahead and acquire used P-3s. L-3 plans to compete against Lockheed Martin for these upgrade programmes.
The three countries are also possible export candidates for the US Navy's new Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA). Boeing says its 737-based solution can be exported and it may offer leases to Asian countries that cannot afford outright purchases. But Lockheed Martin believes new-build P-3s, which it is proposing for MMA, will be too expensive for India, Pakistan or Taiwan.
India is also evaluating P-3s and several other potential platforms for an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) requirement. A few years ago India selected the Israel Aircraft Industries Phalcon radar on an Ilyushin Il-76, but this deal has not yet been completed.
Northrop Grumman says India is evaluating the E-2 Hawkeye and Boeing believes the country is a potential customer for its 737-based AEW&C.
Lockheed Martin believes used P-3s provide the best solution to India for both AEW&C and MPA/ASW given its limited budget and the savings that would result from selecting a common platform for both missions.
Source: Flight International
