VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Canada has given the green light for the third and final phase of development of new radar for its CP140 maritime patrol planes.
Macdonald Dettwilet (MDA) is prime contractor in a $200 million project to deliver a new surveillance radar solution for the CP140 Aurora, which conducts long-range patrols of Canada's coastal waters.
The Vancouver company said in a news release Friday that the third phase, valued at about $78 million, would complete ground testing of the prototypes developed in earlier phases, and get the unit ready for full production. The company will then deliver 16 units for installation. MDA earlier completed the design work on the new radar and selected a hardware producer.
The Aurora, a variant of the four-engine Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion, was delivered to the Canadian military in the 1980s and is tasked with monitoring ship movements and ferreting out submarines. The Canadian fleet is in the midst of a modernization program that will include better capability to track targets on land and sea by radar. The planes will also have enhanced video surveillance, communications and avionics systems. Initial modifications will start taking place this spring.
