Mid-Life Upgrade Completed Adding 20 Years To Airplane's Life

Lockheed Martin has delivered a P-3 Orion with new Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) modifications to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This is the seventh CBP P-3 the team has delivered from its facility in Greenville, SC, since July 2010. "This delivery continues to underscore our unique modification, maintenance, repair and overhaul capability to deliver on our commitments," said Ray Burick, Lockheed Martin vice president for Modification, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MMRO) Greenville Site and Field Team Operations.

The upgraded P-3 Orion has been a game-changer for CBP. In 2012, CBP P-3s flew more than 6,500 flight hours resulting in the seizure of more than 117,000 pounds of narcotics valued at $8.7 billion.

The P-3 MLU replaces all fatigue life-limiting structure with enhanced-design components and incorporates a new metal alloy that is five times more corrosion resistant than the original material, greatly reducing the cost of ownership for P-3 operators. The MLU solution removes current aircraft flight restrictions and extends the structural service life of the P-3 up to 15,000 hours, adding more than 20 years of operational use.

The P-3 Orion is the standard for maritime patrol and reconnaissance, and is used for homeland security, hurricane reconnaissance, anti-piracy operations, humanitarian relief, search and rescue, intelligence gathering, antisubmarine warfare and, recently, to assist in air traffic control and natural disaster relief support.

(Image provided by Lockheed Martin)

FMI: www.cbp.gov