LM wins Portugal P-3C avionics contract

EAGAN, Minn., Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin has won a contract to upgrade the avionics on five Portuguese air force P-3C aircraft.

"The Portuguese Ministry of Defense has awarded Lockheed Martin a direct commercial sale contract valued at $141 million to upgrade the mission system avionics on five P-3C maritime surveillance aircraft," the company said in a statement.

"Under the contract, Lockheed Martin will provide a full mission system upgrade for the Portuguese Air Force aircraft. Upgrades include electronic support measures, acoustics, communications, electro-optic and infrared systems, as well as new data management software and hardware, including controls, displays and mission computers. Systems design, development and integration work will be completed at Lockheed Martin's Eagan-based Tactical Systems line of business. After equipment installation and checkout at Lockheed Martin's Aircraft and Logistics Center in Greenville, SC, the first modernized Portuguese Air Force P-3C aircraft will be delivered in late 2009," the company said.

"The P-3C is the primary maritime surveillance aircraft operated by the U.S. Navy and 15 international allies. Its roles include anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; over water or overland intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and network centric warfare, such as command, control and communications," Lockheed Martin said.

"Portugal has a large area of maritime patrol responsibility that requires a multi-mission capable system to assist with economic zone protection, search and rescue, security issues and illegal immigration," said Vice Admiral Carlos Alberto Viegas Filipe, Portugal's national armaments director. "The modernization fielded under this contract will significantly enhance the Portuguese Air Force's ability to meet their multi-mission requirements, and is a key component in enabling them to continue performing this mission for the foreseeable future."

"Lockheed Martin is honored to have this opportunity and looks forward to delivering mission capable aircraft for a key NATO partner and long time P-3 operator," said Richard Udicious, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Tactical Systems line of business. " … Our upgrades provide enhanced capabilities that will allow the Portuguese Air Force to expand its roles in both humanitarian and military operations."