Pakistani Navy Plans to Procure U.S. P-3 Maritime Aircraft

By AMI INTERNATIONAL INC.

Pakistani Navy (PN) Chief Adm. Shahid Karimullah stated Aug. 5 that he was “hopeful about acquiring additional Lockheed P-3C Orion long-range maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) for the Pakistani fleet.” Along with acquiring additional units, Adm. Karimullah is seeking the acquisition of spare parts for the two P-3C Orion Update II.75 aircraft currently in the Pakistani inventory.

This announcement came after a 10-day visit to the United States by Karimullah in late July. Although it is uncertain exactly how many P-3C Orions the PN is trying to obtain, the sea service is attempting to replace its three aging Breguet Atlantique 1 aircraft. It also is looking to expand its overall fleet of long-range maritime patrol aircraft, requiring around six total aircraft from the United States to supplement the two already in service, for a total fleet of eight.

The PN had previously ordered three P-3C Orions from the U.S. in 1991. However, delivery was held up until 1996. One of the aircraft crashed in October 1999, leaving the sea service with only two P-3s in its inventory.

As part of the deal, the PN will also request modernization packages for its existing inventory of two P-3 Orion Update II.75 aircraft that have not been modernized since delivery.

Spain Plans to Upgrade Navy’s Projection Group

IZAR Construcciones Navales and the Spanish Navy signed an engineering contract Aug. 3 for the project definition phase for the upgrade to the Spanish Navy’s Projection Group. The Projection Group consists of the aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias, the six Santa Maria-class frigates and the Fleet Replenishment Ship Patino.

These units have reached a third of their design life and require systems upgrades as well as modernization to improve crew living. Included in the package will be the upgrade of support centers to allow for maintenance of the new systems installed onboard the eight vessels.

Under the project definition phase, IZAR with its working team consisting of its Technical Department, IZAR Carenas and IZAR Systems, will develop the roadmap to identify, define and integrate all of the components in the modernization package. This phase is expected to last through May 2005, at which time the sea service will probably begin to conduct the individual modernization packages.

The Santa Maria class, of which the first units began to enter service in the mid-1980s, will probably be the first units to enter the modernization cycle. Upgrades reportedly include the addition of a new weapons direction system, the Thales Naval Nederland Sting EO tracker, an infrared camera, K-band radar and laser range finder. Units that have not received the Ensa Elnath communications intercept system will do so during this modernization package.

The Principe de Asturias aircraft carrier, commissioned in 1988, will probably receive its mid-life refit from 2006 through 2008 and the Patino, commissioned in 1995, will probably follow by around 2009. Details of the Asturias’ refit are not yet defined, but most major weapons and sensor systems are expected to receive, at a minimum, the latest software upgrades, communications upgrades for better interoperability with allied forces, as well as a major hull and power plant maintenance package. For the Patino, the focus will more than likely be hull and power plant maintenance.

Romanian Navy Nears Helicopter Decision

The Romanian Navy is in the process of making its final decision on the procurement of three new naval helicopters, according to recent reports. The helicopters will be operated from the two Royal Navy Broadsword-class frigates that were purchased from the United Kingdom and are scheduled for delivery in 2005 and 2006.

The decision is expected to be made by the end of the year, and funding will be provided by the Romanian Army. The helicopters will probably be built in Romania by IAR, which also makes the IAR 330 Puma helicopter under license. Delivery of the first helicopter will probably be by the end of 2006.

The Eurocopter AS 565 Cougar, AugustaWestland EH-101 and NH Industries NH-90 are thought to be the leading candidates for the program. Although the initial order is only for three units, the Romanian Navy will need additional units for its future surface combatant program that will probably start in the next decade.

Tenix Signs Contract for New Zealand’s Project Protector

New Zealand’s ministers of Defense and Finance announced July 30 that a contract had been signed between the New Zealand government and Tenix Defense Systems worth $335.9 million for the Project Protector program. Project Protector calls for the delivery of seven new vessels comprising three types for the Royal New Zealand Navy by 2008.

The vessel types include one Multi-Role Vessel (MRV), two helicopter-capable Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) and four Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) to meet the requirements as set forth in New Zealand’s latest white-paper of 2001, “A Sustainable Defense Force Matched to New Zealand’s Needs.”

On April 5, Tenix Defense Systems of Australia was selected by the New Zealand Government as the preferred tenderer for the project. The first vessel to be delivered under the program is the MRV, which is expected to be commissioned by late 2006 followed by two OPVs and four IPVs in 2007 and 2008.

Japan Redirects Navy Funds To Missile Defense Program

The Japan Defense Agency (JDA) has redirected 2005 procurement funding from naval programs in order to fund the Theater Ballistic Missile Defense (TBMD) program. The two major actions to be taken by the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force to comply with this new national guidance include reducing its surface combatant force from 54 to 48 units and postponing all new ship construction projects by one year.

One destroyer has been cut from the 2005 budget and the entire new construction procurement budget for 2005 has been cut and redirected to the TBMD program. This redirection of funds effectively puts a one-year moratorium on all active programs and a one-year delay in the start of all future programs. This redirection is in addition to the reduction of the overall Japanese budget for 2005 by 1 percent.

The redirection of funds and the cutback of surface combatants from 54 to 48 units will have the following effect on active or planned programs:

The first Helicopter Cruiser (Helicopter Destroyer Program — DDH) was funded in 2004 with the second now sliding from 2005 to 2006, delaying the start of the final unit. ¦ The first Future Destroyer (DDX) Program, with initial funding scheduled for 2005, will now slide to 2006, delaying the entire program by one year.

The Future Guided Missile Destroyer, Future Frigate (DEX) Program, Future Submarine, Future Multi-Purpose Assault Ship, 1,900-Ton Medium Landing Ship, Coastal Minesweeper and Ocean Surveillance Ship programs will all be delayed by one year.

The requirement for frigates under the DEX Program will be limited to a total of 16 units (planned for as many as 21 units) as a result of the reduction in force. All six units withdrawn from service will be from the district fleets (smaller surface combatants).

AMI International Inc., Bremerton, Wash., is an international consulting and naval intelligence services company located on the web at www.amiinter.com