Lockheed Martin announced Wednesday it has delivered the 10th upgraded P-3C maritime surveillance aircraft originally contracted by the US Navy's Naval Air Systems Command, as part of a foreign military sale to the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN).

Under the 2001 contract, Lockheed Martin was awarded more than $73 million to upgrade 10 P-3C aircraft to include advanced computer processing and mission systems integration capabilities; improved communications systems; and state-of the-art acoustic and non-acoustic sensors. The first upgraded aircraft was delivered to the US Navy in November 2003.

Lockheed Martin provides the program management, systems engineering, mission systems and sensors for the aircraft, as well as aircraft upgrades and modifications.

"The P-3 has been an exceptionally capable and durable aircraft for US and international operators for more than 40 years," said Rick Kirkland, vice president of Lockheed Martin's Maritime Surveillance Enterprise. "With this history, and with more than 400 P-3 aircraft in use by US and international operators, we understand how critical it is to create solutions that ensure the continued availability of the P-3 aircraft for many years to come."

The P-3C is the primary maritime surveillance aircraft operated by the US Navy and 15 international allies. Its roles include anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, overland intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and network-centric warfare, such as command, control and communications. Additionally, the capabilities of the P-3C make it an ideal platform for a number of secondary missions, including search and rescue, drug interdiction, airborne early warning and electronic warfare.

"To meet the demands expected to be placed on the aircraft in the years ahead, Lockheed Martin is developing aggressive programs to identify and respond to structural aging issues; providing refresh technology to keep the aircraft's mission capabilities on the cutting edge; and developing systems that operate effectively with other domestic and allied platforms to support the requirements of combatant commanders," added Kirkland.

As prime contractor to the US Navy's Naval Air Systems Command, Lockheed Martin is the prime mission system integrator for the P-3C aircraft's mission avionics, including surveillance sensors, acoustic sensors, weapons control, communication, survivability, displays and controls. Lockheed Martin is a leader in the design, research, development, systems integration and support of mission systems and onboard computing on advanced military aircraft and related technologies. Its customers include US and international military and civilian agencies.

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