New Zealand has issued requests for tender (RFT) to EADS Casa, L-3 Communications and Lockheed Martin for its Project Guardian mission systems upgrade for its six Lockheed Martin P-3K Orion maritime patrol aircraft. Thales has withdrawn from the competition, although it was shortlisted in April.
The New Zealand Ministry of Defence has also issued RFTs to Boeing, Marshall Aerospace and Singapore Technologies Aerospace as well as L-3's Integrated Systems and Spar Aerospace businesses, for the Project Pegasus Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules life extension.
The P-3K mission systems upgrade is valued at around NZ$300 million ($176 million) and will replace the data management systems, radar and electro-optic sensor, electronic surveillance, communications and navigation systems.
The tender closes on 24 September, with a selection due early next year. Thales is understood to have withdrawn because of the risks associated with it being its first P-3 upgrade.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force wants the first upgraded P-3K to re-enter service in 2006, with the remaining five to be delivered by 2008.
An earlier attempt to upgrade the P-3 mission system, Project Sirius, was cancelled in August 2000. A structural refurbishment, however, is under way.
Responses for the five-aircraft C-130H upgrade tender are due on 15 October. Selection is scheduled for the first quarter of next year with work to begin before the end of that year.
The project is worth NZ$100-170 million and includes mechanical, avionics and structural work. New communication and navigation systems are also required, with these expected to cost another NZ$100-150 million.
A project to equip the P-3Ks with an electronic warfare suite and upgrade that of the Hercules is due for cabinet consideration midway through next year.
Meanwhile, the government is expected to consider options for the replacement of Bell Sioux training helicopters and UH-1 Iroquois utility machines this month. Between 12 and 14 UH-1 replacements are required, expected to cost NZ$400-550 million.
The Sioux replacement is being considered as an interim solution while a decision is taken on the UH-1 successor.
Options for a possible short- to medium-range maritime patrol aircraft requirement are expected to be completed by the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries by the end of October.
Source: Flight International
