The U.S. Navy's Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Lockheed Martin a $6 million Foreign Military Sale contract to begin upgrades to P-3C aircraft for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. With the addition of other expected tasks, including aircraft and mission system upgrades and maintenance on a total of nine aircraft, this contract has a potential value of $300 million over the life of the program.

The P-3C is the primary maritime surveillance aircraft operated by the U.S. Navy and 15 international allies. Its roles include anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; over water or overland intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and network­centric 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.

Work on the first Pakistani P-3C aircraft will commence in early March, with additional contract tasks anticipated in 2006 for other aircraft and mission system upgrades on a total of nine aircraft. These P-3Cs will further enhance Pakistan's capabilities to conduct maritime surveillance in the littoral and deep water environments, supporting the conduct of anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare. The aircraft maintenance and modifications will be performed at Lockheed Martin's Aircraft and Logistics Center in Greenville, SC.

"This contract continues to demonstrate Lockheed Martin's commitment to sustain, refresh and support the P-3 aircraft around the world in order to meet the operator's current and future needs," said Rick Kirkland, vice president, Lockheed Martin Maritime Surveillance Enterprise.

"We are proud to provide these critical upgrades to the Pakistan Navy," said Richard Ambrose, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Tactical Systems business unit. "With 91 percent of all active duty P-3's carrying our mission systems, we know these aircraft will be capable of performing at a world-class level. Our upgrades provide enhanced capabilities that will expand Pakistan's role in both humanitarian and military operations."

As prime contractor to the U.S. 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, communications, survivability, displays, and controls. Integrated workstations, sensors, and communications will provide a significant surveillance capability for the Pakistan Navy, making the P-3C a key part of the Pakistan national systems.

Lockheed Martin's Tactical Systems business unit is a leader in the design, research and development, systems integration, and support of mission systems and onboard computing on advanced military aircraft and related technologies. Its customers include U.S. and international military and civilian agencies.

With headquarters in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 135,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products, and services.

For additional information, visit our web site: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/ .

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin