stewart penney / ottawa
Canada's Department of National Defence (DND) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to supply a data management system (DMS) for its 18 Lockheed Martin CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft. The deal is expected to be worth over C$100 million ($65 million).
The DMS is the heart of the CP-140 mission system, integrating the sensors, operator workstations and displays. The RFP is one of 21 projects that the DND has signed or intends to place to maintain the Aurora in service.
Wade Rose, director air force and army programmes, Lockheed Martin Canada, says RFP responses are due in mid-October with a selection set for May next year.
He says DMS is part of the "Group III Computer and Sensor Replacement" package that also encompasses the acoustic system, electronic support measures, electro-optic sensor and radar. Only the acoustic system upgrade has been awarded, to Computing Devices Canada (CDC) earlier this year. The DMS supplier is expected to support DND in the selection of the remaining sensors.
Rose says Lockheed Martin Canada will use experience gained in developing the AYK-23 computer for the US Navy's Lockheed S-3 Viking carrier-borne maritime patrol aircraft. The CP-140 is a Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion with an S-3 mission system.
The Canadian company will link with Lockheed Martin Tactical Systems, says Rose. The Eagan, Minnesota-based firm has developed similar upgrades for other P-3 customers, including Australia, Netherlands, Norway and the US Navy. The two Lockheed Martin companies will also bid for future P-3 upgrades. They responded to a Brazilian RFP in July.
Rose says DMS is "a complex system, there's no way around it, but you can reduce the risk by going where the experience is".
While development would be divided between Eagan and Ottawa, production and in-service support would be centred in Canada. The upgrade work would also be done in Canada, with IMP, which has supported the Canadian Forces CP-140 since service entry, the likely winner.
Other bidders are set to include Boeing, CDC and Raytheon.
Source: Flight International
