L-3 Awarded U.S. Navy P-3 SMIP Contract

June 28, 2011 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: L-3 Communications; issued June 28, 2011)

NEW YORK --- L-3 Communications announced today that its Platform Integration division has been competitively awarded an approximately $104 million contract to perform aircraft sustainment for the U.S. Navy's fleet of P-3, EP-3 and NP-3 aircraft. This indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ) program follows a previous program awarded to L-3 in 2005.

The Sustainment, Modification and Installation (SMIP) program provides for an intensive depot-level process for P-3 airframe and component inspection and deficiency identification. The program corrects deficiencies to ensure safe and reliable operation, as well as to enhance the aircraft service life expectancy to sustain inventory levels throughout the service period.

"We are extremely pleased to be selected to continue our work keeping the P-3 mission-ready and flying safely," said Nick Farah, executive vice president of L-3 Platform Systems. "Our ability to accomplish airframe sustainment concurrently with system integration will return these aircraft to service rapidly and affordably."

Work will be performed on all types, models and series of P-3 aircraft in the 147-aircraft U.S. Navy fleet.

L-3's SMIP work includes a range of aircraft sustainment and modernization activities, including:

-- P-3 outer wing refurbishment,

-- P-3 outer wing installation,

-- Special structural inspection kits (SSI-Ks),

-- Phased maintenance inspections (PMIs), and

-- Modification/installation programs (MIPs).

L-3 has more than 60 years of aircraft modification experience, modifying hundreds of P-3 aircraft for customers throughout the world, including the U.S. Navy, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Australia, Canada, Greece, Korea and New Zealand. L-3's experience and capability includes a dedicated wing refurbishment facility and workforce with current P-3 experience, as well as critical tooling, data and material necessary to support all P-3 initiatives.

Headquartered in New York City, L-3 Communications employs approximately 63,000 people worldwide and is a prime contractor in C3ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) systems, aircraft modernization and maintenance, and government services. L-3 is also a leading provider of a broad range of electronic systems used on military and commercial platforms. The company reported 2010 sales of $15.7 billion.