Lockheed delivers two upgraded P-3C maritime surveillance aircraft to Pakistan

As India signs on for more MiG29's it is obvious that India is putting dependability & political relations over better equipment. It seems to be more and more obvious that the Americans are just being given scraps to keep them happy as we continue to build a deeper relation with Russia. I guess firms like Lockheed Martin have to decide whether they want to supply to Pakistan or India. They cant do both and this is one reason that the F-16 has little chance of winning in India.

Last week, Lockheed Martin delivered two upgraded P-3C maritime surveillance aircrafts out of the seven bought by Pakistan through foreign military sales route (FMS) from United States at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville for subsequent transfer to Pakistan. Lockheed Martin delivered the first plane in October 2009.

Lockheed Martin is upgrading the P-3Cs' aircraft and mission systems and providing maintenance under a 2006 contract from the U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command. The aircraft support anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare missions and will enhance Pakistan’s ability to conduct maritime surveillance in littoral and deep-water environments. The aircraft are designed to have a single integrated tactical picture of the battle space, drawing upon data from aircraft sensors and information from other platforms.

“These aircraft incorporate a variety of enhanced features including communications, electro-optic and infrared systems, data management, controls and displays, mission computers and acoustic processing,” said Mike Fralen, director for Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors' maritime surveillance programs.

The P-3C is Pakistan's primary maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. Its roles include anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, surveillance and reconnaissance, economic zone patrol, airborne early warning and electronic warfare.

Pakistan operates 10 P-3C maritime aircrafts based at naval base in Karachi. The upgraded version of the aircraft includes Hawkeye 2000 AEW system. The P-3C is a four engine turbo prop aircraft with a cruising speed of 590 kilometres and can carry weapons up to 9 tons. It is equipped with bomb hard points on the wings for torpedoes or missiles.

The Pakistan’s navy is being upgraded to meet the emerging requirements due to expansion of Indian navy, which the former considers as it main adversary. As part of the upgrade plan Pakistan plans to induct new UAVs and is looking forward to the arrival of Z-9EC anti- submarine warfare helicopters, which will be embarked upon the service's new F-22P Sword-class light frigates. It is also in the process of buying next-generation submarine, the Type 214 built by Germany's Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft shipyard.