Raytheon is offering refurbished and re-engined Lockheed Martin P-3 Orions to Germany and Italy to meet a joint maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) requirement.
The US company has held talks with Alenia and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa), which are teamed as Europatrol Aircraft for the competition, says James Burkhardt, Raytheon Aircraft Integration Systems' manager, aircraft remanufactured programmes, navy and maritime programmes.
At the heart of Raytheon's bid is the IDHS-2000 tactical system, selected by New Zealand for its Project Sirius P-3 upgrade. Burkhardt says Raytheon is holding talks on sensors with German, Italian and other companies.
Powerplant choice is between the Rolls-Royce AE2100 fitted with a Dowty propeller and the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150 driving a Hamilton Sundstrand eight-bladed propeller, says Burkhardt.
The AE2100/Dowty combination is attractive, he adds, because of commonality with the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules and the LMATTS C-27J - Italy has orders for both. Electric and hydraulic systems would also be upgraded.
Under the proposal, the first four aircraft will be modified at Raytheon's Greenville, Texas, plant, with the rest converted in Europe. If selected, the first upgraded P-3 would fly by early 2006.
Burkhardt says the company is also offering the upgrade to the US Navy for its Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) competition which aims to upgrade or replace the USN's P-3 fleet.
Germany is leading the programme and requires 10 aircraft and two options, while Italy needs 14. Both countries need to replace ageing Dassault/Dornier Atlantic 1s. A selection is set for the fourth quarter of next year with contract signing in the third quarter of 2002.
Other competitors include Lockheed Martin, which is offering a number of P-3 options including new-build P-3Cs, the re-engined P-3C Plus and the re-engined, two-crew cockpit, Orion 2000. Dassault Aviation is offering the Atlantic 3, re-engined with R-R AE2100s and a two-man cockpit.
Source: Flight International
