Page 38 - ADT JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024 Digital Magazine | GBP
P. 38
© Boeing
than 20 operators in 17 countries. investing in MPA platforms. The submarines as well as a powerful
Its 16-hour fly-time and high ferry Indian Navy wants to replace its surface search radar in a radome
range of 8,944km makes it stand Ilyushin Il-38 Dolphin MPA that was under the cockpit.
out in its class. acquired during the Soviet Union
era. The service currently operates In May last year, Malaysia signed
With Germany readying to acquire a fleet of 12 P-8I Neptune MPA a contract with Leonardo for two
P-8As, it is set to part with its but plans to acquire six more of ATR 72 MPA platforms, with the
P-3C CUP Orion MPA with the the aircraft type have been put on signing ceremony taking place
Portuguese Air Force signing an hold. Apart from the P-8I, the other at LIMA 2023. The multi-mission
agreement to buy six of the aircraft platforms in consideration are the aircraft is capable of maritime sur-
for US$48.8 million. The aircraft Airbus C295 variant and the ATR veillance, Anti-Submarine Warfare
will be delivered before 2027, and 72 MP. The total requirement is for (ASW), Anti-Surface unit Warfare
the package also includes mid-life 15 aircraft, nine for the navy and (AsuW), Search & Rescue (SAR),
upgrade (MLU) sets, spares, sup- six for the Indian Coast Guard. In environmental monitoring, med-
port equipment, test benches, and September 2021, Pakistan, which ical evacuation and transport of
simulators. wants to replace its P-3C Orion’s, personnel and materials. The two
inducted its first of three modern MPA, which can carry lightweight
The Australian Air Force Australia, MPA named “Sea Sultan,” which torpedoes for anti-submarine
which retired the last of its is based on Embraer’s Lineage operations, will also be equipped
AP-3C Orion MPA from service in 1000E business jet, a variant of with the modular Leonardo ATOS
December last year after 50 years the Embraer 190 regional airliner. (Airborne Tactical Observation and
of service, has transitioned to a Leonardo oversaw the conversion Surveillance) mission system.
fleet of 14 P-8A aircraft, with 12 of the three aircraft; the country is
of the aircraft inducted into ser- expected to have a fleet of ten Sea Meanwhile, Israeli company Elbit
vice between 2016 and 2019. In Sultans. The Pakistan Navy also Systems has been selected to
September last year, the Australian operates a fleet of modern ATR72 integrate maritime patrol mission
government announced the pur- Sea Eagles. systems onto two ATR 72 turbo-
chase of the fourth MQ-4C Triton props for the Philippine Air Force
UAS as well as the upgrade of the Japan’s Defense Forces have an as part of the service’s Long Range
Australian Defence Force’s fleet of enviable MPA fleet, including the Patrol Aircraft (LRPA) Acquisition
P-8A MPA; the deal is collectively Kawasaki P-1, which has advanced Project. The contract, which was
worth US$968.5m. The ADF will sensors and even artificial intelli- announced by the company in
upgrade the first Poseidon units in gence to reduce the crew workload. July last year, involves equipping
2026, and the final aircraft in 2030. Taiwan is using twelve American the airframes with an advanced
P-3C Orion’s MPA, which it and comprehensive mission suite
Hectic Activity acquired in 2017, to secure its mar- that includes a mission manage-
Realizing the importance of secur- itime borders. China’s MPA fleet is ment system, EO sensor, maritime
ing their maritime borders, many highlighted by the Y-8Q, which has surveillance radar, SIGINT, and
militaries in the Asia Pacific are a distinctive tail boom for detecting communication systems..
38 | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2024 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/ADT
