Greece Launches Nearly $142Mln Upgrade of Orion Surveillance Aircraft

The Greek Navy has started upgrading four Orion P-3B maritime surveillance aircraft.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The Greek Navy has begun a $141.9 million upgrade of four Orion P-3B maritime surveillance aircraft, including the reactivation of one disabled aircraft, the defense contractor Lockheed Martin announced in a press release on Monday.

"During the current difficult and critical times for Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean, the reconstitution of the operational capabilities of this program is a defense priority for the Ministry and the Hellenic Armed Forces," Greece Alternate Minister for National Defense Dimitris Vitsas said in the release.

This contract provides for the reactivation of one Hellenic Navy P-3B aircraft and the procurement of software and hardware kits for the upgrade and modernization for a total of four Hellenic Navy P-3B aircraft, the release explained.

The upgrade is expected to extend the service life of each plane by 15,000 flight hours, the release noted.

The P-3 Orion is the standard for maritime patrol and reconnaissance, and is used for homeland security, anti-piracy operations, humanitarian relief, search and rescue, intelligence gathering, antisubmarine warfare and air traffic control, according to the release.