Airbus Defence and Space and Lockheed Martin to Upgrade German Navy P-3C Orion Fleet
July 31, 2015 | AirbusEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Airbus Defence and Space together with its team partner Lockheed Martin Overseas Services Corporation (LMOSC) are to undertake a Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) - re-winging - of the German Navy fleet of P-3C Orion maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
Under the terms of an eight-year contract signed with the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) the companies will upgrade eight aircraft.
The contract includes the production of eight MLU-kits (outer wing, centre fuselage, and horizontal stabilizer) by LMOSC primarily in Marietta, Georgia, as well as other locations in the United States. Airbus Defence and Space will be responsible for integration, installation and check out of the MLU-K15 kits for the P-3C Orion aircraft at Manching, Germany.
“Once installed, these new wings will extend the life of each German Navy P-3 by 15,000 hours per aircraft, which will allow the German Navy fleet to meet future mission requirements,” said Mark Jarvis, Director of P-3 Programs at Lockheed Martin. “We look forward to working with Airbus to provide the German Navy, and specifically Naval Air Wing 3 at NAS Nordholz, the improved capability that these wings will provide.”
As the Weapon System Support company, Airbus Defence and Space provides to the German Navy full in-service support for its P-3C Orion fleet.
Frank Bodenstein, Senior Manager and Head of P-3 Orion / Logistic and Engineering Programmes at Airbus Defence and Space said: “This contract clearly demonstrates the future requirement for this weapon system and Airbus Defence and Space is looking forward to supporting the Germany Navy with our capabilities at our military aircraft centre in Manching for many years to come.”
About Airbus Defence and Space
Airbus Defence and Space is a division of Airbus Group formed by combining the business activities of Cassidian, Astrium and Airbus Military. The new division is Europe’s number one defence and space enterprise, the second largest space business worldwide and among the top ten global defence enterprises. It employs more than 38,000 employees generating revenues of approximately €13 billion per year.
Testimonial
"We’re proud to call I-Connect007 a trusted partner. Their innovative approach and industry insight made our podcast collaboration a success by connecting us with the right audience and delivering real results."
Julia McCaffrey - NCAB GroupSuggested Items
Saab, the Swedish Armed Forces Extend Gripen Maintenance Contract
10/13/2025 | SaabSaab and the Swedish Armed Forces have extended an existing contract and Saab has received an order for support- and maintenance services for Gripen C/D and E. The order value is approximately SEK 4 billion and deliveries will take place 2026 to 2027.
RTX Unveils new APG-82(V)X Radar Enhanced with Gallium Nitride
09/25/2025 | RTXRaytheon, an RTX business, has unveiled the latest iteration of its combat-proven APG-82 radar, the APG-82(V)X. The new radar variant incorporates cutting-edge gallium nitride (GaN) technology to enhance the radar's effectiveness, delivering increased range, advanced air-to-air, air-to-ground and electronic warfare capabilities.
U.S. Army Awards $13M IDIQ Contract to Element U.S. Space & Defense
09/11/2025 | BUSINESS WIREElement U.S. Space & Defense, a trusted leader in advanced testing and engineering services, has been awarded a multi-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract valued at $13,021,816 from United States Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG).
New Frontier Aerospace and Air Force Institute of Technology Sign CRADA to Advance Hypersonic VTOL Aircraft
08/05/2025 | PR NewswireNew Frontier Aerospace (NFA) is excited to announce a Collaborative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) aimed at advancing an innovative rocket-powered hypersonic Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft.
L3Harris, ELT Group to Establish Multi-Sensor Test Facility in Italy
07/28/2025 | L3Harris TechnologiesL3Harris Technologies has partnered with ELT Group, the Italian global leader in electromagnetic spectrum operations, to establish a multi-sensor test facility for commercial, military and government programs.