P-3 Systems Upgrade
Client: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Description
The mission systems and the communication and navigation systems on the six P-3K Orion aircraft operated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force are to be upgraded. The scope of this project includes the replacement of the data management, sensor, communications and navigation systems, and the provision of associated ground systems.
Government approval
In September 2004 the Government approved a project budget of NZ$352 million excluding GST.
Contract
A contract was signed in October 2004 with L-3 Communications Integrated Systems of the United States as the prime contractor for the project.
L-3/IS has engaged New Zealand companies:
- Safe Air Ltd to undertake the modification to aircraft 2-6 at their facility in Blenheim; and
- Beca Applied Technologies as sub-contractors to assist with software development.
Current status
Early installation of the electro-optics system on three aircraft was completed in October 2005.
Half the fleet has now been upgraded. The prototype aircraft (NZ 4204) was delivered in April 2011, the second aircraft (NZ 4201) in March 2012 and the third aircraft in September 2012. The fourth and fifth aircraft are undergoing modification in Safe Air.
The schedule for the remaining aircraft is:
- 4th Aircraft (NZ 4203) – first quarter of 2013
- 5th Aircraft – third quarter 2013
- 6th Aircraft – first quarter 2014
Contact
For further information see the Royal New Zealand Air Force web site (www.airforce.mil.nz) or contact:
Acquisition Division
Ministry of Defence
PO Box 12703
Molesworth Street
Wellington 6144
New Zealand
Phone: +64 4 496 0678
Fax: +64 4 496 0859
Email: info@defence.govt.nz
As at March 2013
