BAE Systems Canada has won a C$58 million ($39.2 million) contract to upgrade Canadian Forces Lockheed CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft.
Canada's Department of National Defence says the contract to update navigation systems and flight instrumentation is part of the Aurora Incremental Modernisation Project, which aims to update mission and flight systems in the P-3 Orion variant.
The 10-year programme will involve 19 separate projects at a cost of over C$900 million and will include a radar with a synthetic aperture capability and new electronic warfare systems.
As well as supplying the flight management system, and the control and display unit (CDU),BAE's Kanata, Ontario, facility will act as prime contractor and systems integrator for the programme.
Other changes will include the introduction of an inertial navigation system with embedded GPS satellite navigation, electronic flight instrumentation displays and a new radar altimeter and autopilot. The equipment will be integrated through three CDUs.
BAE says it will let around eight subcontracts with Canadian and US suppliers for the equipment. It has yet to sign up the majority of suppliers, but IMP Aerospace at Halifax, Nova Scotia, will perform the aircraft modifications.
Work started last week, with the completion of a first modified aircraft due in around a year's time. BAE says the programme will last three years.
Source: Flight International
