Ramona Adams
Lockheed Martin, the Greek navy and Hellenic Aerospace Industry have officially launched Greece’s P-3B Orion maritime surveillance aircraft modernization program at a ceremony held Monday at an HAI facility in Athens.
The event was attended by representatives from the Greek defense ministry, national defense general staff, navy, air force and general directorate for defense investment and armament as well as leaders from the U.S. Embassy in Greece and local authorities, Lockheed said Monday.
The first of two P-3B aircraft of the Greek navy were transferred from the Elefsis air base to HAI’s facilities in Tanagra, Greece on July 13, according to Lockheed.
The company secured a three-year, $141.9 million foreign military sales contract from the U.S. Navy in February to reactivate and modernize Greece’s P-3B fleet.
Lockheed’s aeronautics segment acts as the prime contractor for the potential $500 million FMS deal approved by the State Department in October 2014.
The contract covers reactivation of one P-3B aircraft; software and hardware kits to update four P-3Bs; midlife upgrade kits to extend aircraft service life by 15,000 flight hours; phased depot maintenance; mission integration and management system; new avionics and other ancillary hardware and services, Lockheed noted.
