26 July 2002
In response to a Request for Proposals issued in November 2001 by the German-Italian MPA-R Programme Management Team at Koblenz to replace the ageing fleet of Breguet Atlantic ATL-1 operated by both countries, Lockheed Martin and an Alenia Aeronautica/ EADS Military joint venture both announced competing offers at Farnborough. The Germany/Italy MPA-R calls for 10 aircraft for Germany and 14 for Italy and has an estimated value of more than $3 billion.
Breguet Atlantic ATL-1
Alenia Aeronautica and EADS Military Aircraft are proposing Airbus 320 platforms, using a modification concept incorporating Maritime Patrol Aircraft specific functionality. Alenia/EADS will establish a Joint Venture to be the prime contractor for the programme.
The MPA aircraft will be equipped with advanced sensors, tactical data management and communications systems for operators, stores and weapons compartments and a crew rest area. The MPA320 offer is supplemented by fixed-site and deployable mission support facilities to be fielded at the main operating bases in Germany and Italy and deployed operating bases world-wide. Training simulators and the full spectrum of logistic and customer support services are included in the offer.
EADS and Alenia believe that the MPA320 will meet both customers' expectations and detailed requirements. The partner companies said they also convinced that they have made the right choice in making the MPA320 available for the world-wide market.
Lockheed Martin is proposing a newly manufactured P-3C for the MPA-R programme that will join a fleet of more then 450 P-3s operated world-wide by 16 countries.
The new P-3C aircraft is proposing will have several reliability and maintainability improvements including new corrosion resistant materials in the wings and performance enhancements to the T56-14 engine.
The mission system will combine elements of the Avionics Improvement Programme (AIP) and the Block Modification Upgrade Programme (BMUP) configurations developed by Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics and Surveillance Systems.
"Germany and Italy, as well as other potential customers, will benefit from the continuous improvement and investment in systems upgrades that have been integrated by the world-wide P-3 community," said Jack Crisler, Lockheed Martin's director of international Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) pursuits. "This provides interoperability with both US and international operators."
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