The Nimrod MRA4 has no prospect of securing export business, although BAE Systems at one time viewed the system as a potential candidate for the US Navy's Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) requirement. However, the UK programme's widely reported development and contractual troubles scuttled its campaign well before the company got as far as selecting a US partner to prime on the project.
The global maritime patrol aircraft market is likely to be dominated for years by the availability of ex-US Navy Lockheed Martin P-3 Orions and the P-8A MMA – a modified Boeing 737 selected by the USN last year in preference to a new-build version of the P-3. The navy plans to acquire 108 MMA platforms to replace its ageing P-3Cs.
Boeing lists Australia, Canada and Italy as potential early buyers and possible industrial partners on the MMA development programme, with each required to invest around $300 million to participate in system development and demonstration activities and potentially secure manufacturing workshare. The model for the multinational aspect of the MMA programme will draw on the lessons learned during Lockheed's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter effort, says Tony Parasida, vice-president maritime systems for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems.
Windtunnel testing of the modified 737 MMA design – which features underwing weapons pylons and an internal weapons/equipment bay – have been completed and a preliminary design review will take place in September 2005. This will lock in both the aircraft's configuration and its international supplier base, says Boeing, which hopes to achieve export sales of some 100-200 P-8s. More than 900 US personnel were working on the MMA project by March 2005, including employees of Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and Smiths.
The US government has, meanwhile, offered to provide surplus P-3s to countries including India, Pakistan and South Korea, with firms including L-3 and Lockheed offering equipment upgrades and airframe modifications to extend operations of the Lockheed Electra-based airframe. Europe's EADS Casa has also received contracts for the service life extension and tactical mission system upgrade of 13 P-3s in service with Brazil and Spain.
Source: Flight International
