Tenix Defence Aerospace and L-3 Communications Integrated Systems have delivered the last AP-3C aircraft in the production phase of the Sea Sentinel upgrade program, on time and within budget.

The Chief Executive Officer of Tenix Defence, Robert Salteri, said the delivery marked the completion of the largest and most complex aerospace modification and upgrade program in Australia to date.

"In 18 months, the Avalon-based team was able to modify and deliver the final 10 RAAF AP-3C aircraft to L-3 and the Commonwealth - on time and within budget," Mr. Salteri said.

"The success of this production phase illustrates what can be achieved when you team Australia's largest defence business with one of the world's leading Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems providers." The AP-3C aircraft is widely recognised, both domestically and within the international maritime patrol aircraft community, as the most capable aircraft of its type in operational service anywhere in the world.

The Sea Sentinel upgrade program involved modifying the P-3C aircraft to an AP-3C configuration, resulting in operational weight reduction and a significantly increased sensor capability.
The major new systems include:

• Electronic flight instrument system
• Navigation system
• Forward and aft radar system
• Sensor stations
• Inter-communication system
• Communication suite
• Acoustics system
• Data management system
• Direction finding system

These were interfaced with all existing systems, and then tested, accepted and delivered.

FMI: www.tenix.com, www.l-3com.com