What is the P-3C ORION aircraft Portugal Defence just bought from Germany?
Portugal Defence news - Portugal Defence invests EUR 45 million to purchase 6 P-3C ORION aircraft from Germany.
According to Germany’s Federal Ministry of Defence, Portugal’s Air Force has signed a contract with Germany on September 25th, 2023 to purchase 6 P-3C ORION aircraft.
What is the P-3C ORION aircraft Portugal Defence just bought from Germany?
Portugal has just purchased Germany’s fleet of six P-3C ORION Turbo-Prop aircraft with its associated equipment, including the flight and tactile simulator as well as the mid-life upgrade (MLU) kits.
The Lockheed P-3C ORION is a four-engine, turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft produced in the US by Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems Company. Portugal Defence will use the new P-3C ORION aircraft for maritime patrol, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-surface Warfare (ASuW).
The fleet of 6 six P-3C ORION Turbo-Prop aircraft that Portugal just purchased from the Federal Defence Forces of Germany, the Bundeswehr, is being transferred from Nordholz to Portugal. With this new acquisition, Portugal intends to further expand its fleet of five P-3C ORION aircraft to reach a total of 11 P-3C ORION aircraft. The first five P-3C ORION aircraft that were already purchased by Portugal from the Royal Netherlands Navy in 2006 were upgraded by Lockheed Martin and OGMA Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal to the P-3C CUP+ standard that includes new sensors, an AAR-47 Missile approach warning system, and a Laser Warning System.
Portugal’s new acquisition from the Federal Defence Forces of Germany, the Bundeswehr, will increase the country’s defence capabilities in line with NATO requirements. Portugal’s Air Force 601 Squadron "Lobos", meaning Wolves, is a maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare squadron that operates the Lockheed P-3C Orion aircraft and is based in the Beja Air Base in southern Portugal’s Alentejo region.
With the sale of its fleet of 6 P-3C ORION Turbo-Prop aircraft to Portugal Defence, Germany is making room for its new P-8A POSEIDON seafarer. The P-8A Poseidon is a maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft developed by Boeing that includes an integral bomb bay, as well as Raytheon Mark 54 torpedoes and air-to-surface missiles.
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