CHRISTINA MACKENZIE / PARIS & GRAHAM WARWICK /WASHINGTON DC

Maritime aircraft would receive defence and systems improvements worth $350 million

Portugal's defence minister Paulo Portas is poised to decide whether to continue the upgrade of the air force's six Lockheed Martin P-3POrion maritime patrol aircraft, or abandon the tender, as there is only one bidder, Lockheed Martin Tactical Systems.

Lisbon says the decision to proceed will be made by the middle of next month, but could come sooner. Portugal has earmarked €310 million ($350million) for the upgrade, and expects local aerospace company OGMA to receive some of the work.

A Lockheed Martin Tactical Systems source says the company has been selected as prime contractor for Portugal's two-part life-extension and capability improvement programme, and that it is hoped that a contract will be awarded by early next year.

This would lead to a six-year programme with the first aircraft being redelivered three years into the deal. Portugal's six P-3Ps are ex-Australian P-3Bs.

Platform life-extension will involve replacement of the wing (from Vought) and other components, work similar to that done on New Zealand's Orions, and will extend service life by 15-20 years. Lockheed Martin's Marietta-based Aeronautics company and Greenville-based Aircraft & Logistics Center will also participate.

The capability improvement element will replace the mission system with new processors, controls/displays and software, and new subsystems including the radar, acoustic suite, electronic surveillance measures, magnetic anomaly detector and communications system. Flightdeck upgrades are also part of the proposal.

Lockheed Martin has suggested a mission system solution, but the final configuration will depend on the outcome of contract negotiations with the air force - alternatives have been provided in some areas. Anew training system is also on offer, although Portugal has made no decision.

The source says Lockheed Martin will work with OGMA, but the exact work split is yet to be decided. Options include the Portuguese company upgrading all the aircraft, or Lockheed Martin doing one, two or all six airframes in the USA.

Source: Flight International