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| India-Pakistan |
| Lockheed Martin delivers P-3C surveillance jets to Pakistan |
| 2010-01-16 |
| American aviation major Lockheed Martin has delivered to Pakistan two P-3C maritime surveillance aircraft that were upgraded under the US government's Foreign Military Sales programme. Lockheed Martin delivered the first plane in October last year and the second one was handed over to the US Naval Air Station at Jacksonville in Florida on January 7 for subsequent transfer to Pakistan, the company said. The firm is upgrading seven P-3C aircraft from Pakistan. It will also refurbish their mission systems and provide maintenance under a 2006 contract from the US Navy. The aircraft support anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare missions and will enhance Pakistan's ability to conduct surveillance in littoral and deep-water environments. The aircraft are designed to have a single integrated tactical picture of the space around them by drawing on data from sensors and information from other platforms. "These aircraft incorporate a variety of enhanced features, including communications, electro-optic and infrared systems, data management, controls and displays, mission computers and acoustic processing," said Mike Fralen, director for Lockheed Martin's mission systems and sensors maritime surveillance programmes. The P-3C is Pakistan's primary maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. Its roles include anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, surveillance and reconnaissance, economic zone patrol, airborne early warning and electronic warfare. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #4 The P-3C Orion is based upon the Lockheed L188 Electra, but definitely upgraded from that design. Been a workhorse for almost half a century. Like anything, it is what you stuff in the airframe that makes the mission. I would imagine that it is nothing compared to our P-3Cs, but in this day and age, with clueless top leadership, you never know. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2010-01-16 17:08 |
| #3 Well since their bosom buddies the ChiComs took apart one in Bush's first year... it can be much more harm... |
| Posted by: 3dc 2010-01-16 16:22 |
| #2 The USn has been experiencing wing fatigue with the P3 fleet; many have been grounded and re-winging is an option. with the P-8 coming on line, i would expect more P-3s available for FMS. and new wings and avionics would be a good deal for our allies. And FWIW, the engine are turboshafts, not jets. |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2010-01-16 16:00 |
| #1 U.S. supplies the surveillance jets, and the Paks supply the Taliban fliers... |
| Posted by: borgboy 2010-01-16 15:02 |