The German naval air arm, Marineflieger, is close to finalising a deal with the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNN) to buy 8-10 of the Dutch Lockheed Martin P-3C Orions, which are facing premature retirement under forthcoming defence cuts.
The Marineflieger intends to retire its ageing maritime patrol Dassault Atlantics in favour of the upgraded P-3s. Germany's four 'Peace Peek' ELINT (electronic intelligence) Atlantics may be retained. The move will spell the end for RNN maritime patrol operations.
It hopes to achieve initial operating capability (IOC) as early as the end of 2006. The Marineflieger is likely to receive support from Lockheed Martin and the US Navy in the transition and initial support for the P-3 fleet.
The Marineflieger is reportedly impressed with the Lockheed Martin P-3 Capabilities Upkeep Programme (CUP) now being introduced on the RNN fleet. The first P-3 to be upgraded under the programme was recently re-delivered to the RNN at Valkenburg. The aircraft to be delivered to Germany are all planned to go through the upgrade before delivery.
The RNN selected Lockheed Martin in October 2001 for the CUP upgrade for 10 of its 13 P-3Cs, with the package being based on the US Navy's anti-surface warfare improvement programme (AIP) and including AN/APS-137 imaging synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) as well as new communications and electronic warfare suites.
Lockheed Martin has been impressed by the levels of interest shown in second-hand P-3s since the US Navy's decision to drawdown its P-3C fleet to 148 airframes and the selection of the Boeing 737-800 for the Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA).
JAMIE HUNTER
Source: Flight Daily News
