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PMA 290 leads overhaul of P-3C Orion

NAVAIR Release

Press Release Number: E200308261

Release Date: 8/26/2003

By Joan Holland PMA 290 Public Affairs

NAVAIR's Maritime Surveillance Aircraft Program (PMA 290) block modification upgrade program delivered the last of 10 specially modified P-3C aircraft on July 21. When the final aircraft rolled off the modification installation program line last month, it concluded the team's six-year effort to provide the fleet with the latest technology in maritime surveillance aircraft and completed BMUP's acquisition delivery phase.

To date, P-3C's modified by the BMUP have forward deployed in various worldwide detachments to arenas including the Caribbean, Germany, Japan, England and Hawaii. Missions supported include counter-narcotics programs and fleet exercises.

"It's evident that this program's success can be measured by the team effort comprised of government and industry," said Cmdr. Mike Smith, the P-3 Update III deputy program manager. "During the past six years, including an extensive non-recurring engineering effort, completion of operational test and evaluation, and modification installations, this team focused on providing an operationally significant asset to the maritime patrol and reconnaissance fleet. The team achieved its goals as proven by these aircraft being forward deployed in support of the Navy's worldwide commitments."

The P-3C BMUP aircraft integrates the latest technology with an airframe that has served as the backbone of maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare for more than 40 years. BMUP began as an effort to standardize the Navy's P-3C force into a common configuration to give the warfighter the best technology has to offer.

"Integrating complex modern avionics systems into a legacy platform with a 40-year history of service presented a series of engineering challenges," according to LCDR Scott Dillon, P-3 Update III class desk. "Many of the legacy sensors that remain on the aircraft were never designed to operate with BMUP's upgraded displays and controls. By maintaining a close working relationship with industry, the test community, and fleet operators, PMA 290 ensured that upgraded components were seamlessly integrated with legacy sensors, and provided significantly improved operational capabilities."

Even through the challenges along the way, the BMUP team kept their eye on the goal of providing this significant improvement to the fleet. The upgrades included a new acoustic processor, a new digital tactical computer, flat panel displays, touch screen entry panels, enhanced on-line weapons controls and an upgraded electronic support measures system.

Lockheed Martin Aircraft Corporation in Greenville, S.C., completed the functional installation verification aircraft and the test kit installation aircraft modifications and L3 Communications Integrated Systems in Greenville, Texas, completed the follow-on eight installations.

According to Bert Homan, of RBC, Inc., who has provided support for BMUP since the program's inception, the program's management required widely diversified leadership to ensure success. "It has been a genuine privilege to see a program evolve from the system concept phase, through development, test, and final delivery to the fleet," remarked Homan. "Program management has been absolutely superb on BMUP. We've had great leaders including Capt. Carl Reiber, Capt. Bill Dunkin, Barry Knouse, Capt. Tom Mehringer, Cmdr. Jim Hoke, and Cmdr. Mike Smith."

With the team's goal of providing greater operational capability with enhanced technical capacity met, the completion of the final upgraded P-3C is a major milestone for the BMUP team.

NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technologies through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From aircraft and weapons development to carrier launch and recovery; from sensors to real-time communications to precision targeting; from aircraft and weapons sustainment to state-of-the-art training; NAVAIR provides dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to the American warfighter.