Airbus Defence and Space and LM to upgrade German Navy P-3C Orion fleet

Airbus Defence and Space together with its team partner Lockheed Martin Overseas Services Corporation (LMOSC) are to undertake a Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) – re-winging – of the German Navy fleet of P-3C Orion maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
Under the terms of an eight-year contract signed with the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) the companies will upgrade eight aircraft.
The contract includes the production of eight MLU-kits (outer wing, centre fuselage, and horizontal stabilizer) by LMOSC primarily in Marietta, Georgia, as well as other locations in the United States. Airbus Defence and Space will be responsible for integration, installation and check out of the MLU-K15 kits for the P-3C Orion aircraft at Manching, Germany.
“Once installed, these new wings will extend the life of each German Navy P-3 by 15,000 hours per aircraft, which will allow the German Navy fleet to meet future mission requirements,” said Mark Jarvis, Director of P-3 Programs at Lockheed Martin. “We look forward to working with Airbus to provide the German Navy, and specifically Naval Air Wing 3 at NAS Nordholz, the improved capability that these wings will provide.”

The naval air arm of the German Navy is called the Marineflieger. The Marineflieger operate approx. 50 aircrafts.

Source : Airbus Defence and Space