Portugal Expands Roster Of Maritime Patrol Aircraft

Sea Power, Apr 2006

The Portuguese Ministry of Defense signed a contract with Spain's EADS CASA Feb. 17 for the acquisition of 12 C-295 tactical transport aircraft, five of which will be configured for maritime patrol.

The naval portion of the $331.9 million contract will be for five C-295MP aircraft equipped with the FITS (Fully Integrated Tactical System) maritime surveillance system that includes a search radar, forward-looking infrared radar, electronic support measures, decoys and data link. FITS allows the C-295 to operate in antisurface and antisubmarine warfare roles as well as conduct search-and-rescue and limited intelligence collection operations. The C-295MP has a patrol range of more than 3,000 nautical miles and a maximum speed of 256 knots.

The added capabilities of the C-295MP will supplement the five Lockheed P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft the Portuguese Navy acquired in 2005 from the Netherlands as well as six units currently in inventory. These 11 aircraft are scheduled to receive a modernization package beginning in 2008, should funds become available.

Indian Naval Aviation Upgrade Projects Advance

The Indian Navy issued a request for proposal (RfP) in January to eight foreign suppliers for the purchase of 16 helicopters (with an option for eight additional units) to replace the Sea Kings currently in service. India has stated it would consider used Sea King helicopters that have 1,000-2,000 flight hours.

Evaluation of the options will begin later this year. A contract will not be finalized until late 2007 or early 2008. In 2005, the Indian Navy earmarked $600 million for the program that will begin delivering helicopters around 2010.

In other Indian Navy aviation upgrade developments, the service has issued a limited global tender for the procurement of eight new long-range maritime patrol/antisubmarine warfare aircraft. The Navy has ear-marked up to $800 million for the program. RfPs were sent to Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Dassault, Finmeccanica, Ilyushin Design Bureau and Embraer. Technical bids for the program were due by March 15.

Aircraft specifications include an endurance of more than 12 hours, a weapon payload of 3.5 metric tons, the ability to carry sea-skimming missiles and data link capabilities.

In February, the first of five Ilyushin Il-38 aircraft was returned to the Indian Navy following a modernization program in Russia. Under a $205 million contract signed in 2003, modifications include the installation of the Morskoy Zemei observation and targeting radar and modifications to deploy the PJ-10 Brahmos cruise missile as well as Russian antiship missiles. The remaining four aircraft should be modernized by 2007 providing an additional 10 years of operational service per airframe.

AMI International Inc., Bremerton, Wash., is an international consulting and naval intelligence services company located on the web at www.amiinter.com