Thu, May 05, 2011
Airplane Will "Transform The Fleet," Vice Marshal Says
The Royal New Zealand Air Force has accepted the first upgraded
P-3K2 Orion from the Ministry of Defence during a short ceremony at
Air Force Base Whenuapai. Chief of Air Force Air Vice-Marshal Peter
Stockwell said the upgraded aircraft represents a significant
advance in technology and will introduce a fundamental change to
the capability of No. 5 Squadron as they transition from their
traditional role as a Maritime Patrol Force to an Airborne
Surveillance and Response Force.
"The return of the P-3K2 Orion is an important milestone for the
RNZAF. The upgraded P-3K2 will transform the fleet, improving the
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability in
support of government agencies such as Fisheries and Customs, and
government directed military operations.
"The upgrade will enhance the aircraft's existing capability
across its range of missions including; long range maritime
surveillance, search and rescue, effective monitoring of our
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and supporting our South Pacific and
Asia Pacific relationships," said AVM Stockwell.
The P-3K2 Orion project includes upgrades to the aircraft's
communication, navigation, surveillance and data management
systems; a state-of-the-art glass flight deck and mission
preparation and analysis systems. Also included in the upgrade are
crew training and software testing and integration tools. The
aircraft will now undergo a period of Operational Testing and
Evaluation (OT&E), which will enable the crews to develop the
procedures to optimise safe and effective use of the new systems to
maximise the capability of the transformed aircraft.
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