European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS) has secured a €109 million ($102 million) contract to upgrade the Spanish Air Force's five Lockheed Martin P-3B Orion maritime patrol aircraft. The first modified aircraft is due to be delivered in September 2003.
The modification includes installation of the EADS "FITS" mission system, new radar, electronic warfare system, identification friend-or-foe interrogator, acoustic system, data link, V/UHF and HF radios and inertial and satellite navigation systems. EADS will also supply a mission ground support centre and maintenance support until at least 2008.
The company, formed last year through the merger of Spain's CASA with Aerospatiale and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, began work on FITS in 1995 and says the new contract "is an important step in the consolidation of this line of business".
Source: Flight International
