Sun, Aug 28, 2011
Aircraft Fly Primarily Drug Interdiction Missions
A third P-3 Orion with a new Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) kit was
delivered recently to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) by
Lockheed Martin. This P-3 Orion joins the two similar aircraft that
CBP is currently operating to support its critical homeland
security missions. Lockheed Martin delivered the first CBP MLU P-3
in July 2010 and the second airplane in April 2011. From October
2010 to April 2011, CBP used P-3 Orions to stop more than 117,000
pounds of drugs worth more than $1.5 billion from entering the
United States. To date, the amount of cocaine seized by CBP crews
equals about $240,000 for every hour the P-3 flies.
File Photo
"U.S. Customs and Border Protection missions are essential in
strengthening our nation's safety," said Ray Burick, Lockheed
Martin P-3 Programs and Greenville Operations vice president.
"Lockheed Martin is committed to partnering with the U.S. Customs
and Border Protection team to provide affordable enhancements that
will keep its P-3 Orion fleet operating at optimal performance
levels for decades to come."
The MLU replaces all fatigue-life-limiting structures with
enhanced-design components and incorporates a new metal alloy that
is five times more corrosion resistant than the original material,
greatly reducing the cost of ownership for P-3 operators. The MLU
is the operationally proven solution that removes current aircraft
flight restrictions and extends the structural service life of the
P-3 up to 15,000 hours, adding more than 20 years of operational
use.
CBP is under contract with Lockheed Martin to deliver 14 of its
16 P-3 Orions outfitted with MLU kits. Deliveries will occur
through 2015. To date, Lockheed Martin has 71 MLU kits under
contract with six operators from four nations.
P-3 Orion is the standard for maritime patrol and
reconnaissance, and is used for homeland security, hurricane
reconnaissance, anti-piracy operations, humanitarian relief, search
and rescue, intelligence gathering, antisubmarine warfare and,
recently, to assist in air traffic control and data gathering over
the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
More News
From 2023 (YouTube Version): Legacy of a Titan Robert (Bob) Anderson Hoover was a fighter pilot, test pilot, flight instructor, and air show superstar. More so, Bob Hoover was an i>[...]
Get The Latest in Aviation News NOW on Instagram Are you on Instagram yet? It's been around for a few years, quietly picking up traction mostly thanks to everybody's new obsession >[...]
Aero Linx: B-52H Stratofortress The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic spee>[...]
Altimeter Setting The barometric pressure reading used to adjust a pressure altimeter for variations in existing atmospheric pressure or to the standard altimeter setting (29.92).>[...]
"Knowing that we play an active part in bettering people's lives is extremely rewarding. My team and I are very thankful for the opportunity to be here and to help in any way we ca>[...]