Lockheed ups Northstar's P-3 orders

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin has increased its production order to Canada's Northstar Network Ltd. for wing parts and assemblies for P-3 aircraft.

Northstar Electronics, Inc., parent company of NNL, said the revised master purchase order boosts the value of NNL's P-3 contract by $9.1 million to a total of $16.4 million.

"This significant production increase, the largest order that Northstar has received to date, further defines and strengthens the position of Northstar as a serious contender in aerospace manufacturing," said Terry McLeod, Northstar's vice president, Development & Operations.

Under the Lockheed Martin P-3 Mid-Life Upgrade Program, NNL manufactures finished components and assemblies for new production service life extension kits for the P-3 Orion wing upgrade.

The MLU will add more than 15,000 flying hours to each aircraft, representing 15 to 20 additional years of service for the maritime patrol and reconnaissance resource.

Northstar is responsible for supplying approximately 400 parts and assemblies per aircraft, or about one-fifth of the total parts required under the wing upgrade program.