Flight International Online news 11:00GMT: Lockheed Martin plans to open a new outer wing production line at its Marietta, Ga. facility to extend the life of the P-3 Orion and CP-140 patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.
There are over 500 maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft around the world, some 85 percent of which are P-3s, many of which have been in service for forty years, gaining a reputation as a premier airborne sub-hunter. Some 15 nations use the P-3 Orion to patrol national waters.
According to Lockheed Martin interest in extending the service life of the world's P-3 and CP-140 fleet has increased as a result of the firm's P-3 Structural Life Assessment Program which revealed that the P-3 was accumulating fatigue damage faster than had been previously believed.
Rick Kirkland, head of Lockheed Martin's Maritime Surveillance Enterprise says "With many of the P-3 aircraft in operation now reaching their service life limits sooner than expected, and with no affordable replacement maritime patrol aircraft available, a service life extension is the only way for nations to maintain this vital operational capability."
The production of the outer wing should provide an additional 20 years of service life, says the company. The kit also includes the centre wing lower surface, horizontal stabilizer, wing and horizontal stabilizer leading edges, fillet fairings and incorporates design enhancements and new materials with increased corrosion resistance. Lockheed Martin claims this will provide P-3 operators an additional 15,000 hours of service life with reduced maintenance costs, down time and reliability.
Lockheed Martin or its authorised P-3 Orion service centres will be availble to install the life extension kits at a number of locations worldwide.
The four-engined P-3 is used for antisubmarine and antisurface warfare; overwater or overland reconnaissance; and networkcentric warfare.
Around the world it is also used for drug interdiction, firefighting, airborne early warning and electronic warfare.
Source: Flight International
