Lockheed Martin [LMT] recently received an order for two additional P-3 Orion Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) kits from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The order brings the total number of CBP P-3s on contract to receive the MLU to 11 with an option for five additional kits in 2011, according to the company.
Customs and Border Control will receive up to 16 upgraded P-3s for deliveries planned through 2015. It received the first fully upgraded P-3 Orion in July 2010.
The new order brings the total program to 56 kits, including orders from CBP, the Navy and international customers.
Lockheed Martin’s P-3 MLU program replaces the aircraft’s outer wings, center wing lower surface and horizontal stabilizer with new production components. It replaces all fatigue-life-limiting structure with enhanced-design components and incorporates a new metal alloy that is five times more corrosion resistant, according to Lockheed Martin. The MLU solution also removes current aircraft flight restrictions and extends the structural service life of the P-3 up to 15,000 hours, adding about 20 years of operational use.
P-3 Orion 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 data gathering over the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.