NAVY * AIRCRAFT

Sea Power,  Jan 2004  

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Recapitalization of the current capabilities of the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force (MPRF) is the goal of the Multimission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) program. Ultimately, the MMA will replace the U.S. Navy's fleet of aging P-SCs, which currently provide strategic blue-water and littoral undersea warfare (USW) capabilities, armed intelligence, and surveillance and reconnaissance roles. Although the MMA's primary mission will be providing dominance in antisubmarine warfare (ASW), the multimission design will also provide antisurface warfare (ASuW) and maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

The two concepts being evaluated for MMA are derivatives of the Boeing 737 Next Generation and Lockheed Martin Orion21. The program plans to select a concept and initiate development in FY 2004 after the planned Milestone B (MS B) Decision Review in April 2004. The schedule beyond MS B is alternative dependent; however, if the current pace is maintained, the first flight of the MMA can be expected as early as 2009. The Navy plans to procure 108 MMAs and 50 BAMS (Broad-Area Maritime Surveillance System) UAVs.

Operationally, P-3C Orion aircraft have been valuable reconnaissance platforms worldwide, serving joint commanders on missions over Somalia, Haiti, Rwanda, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Maverick-armed P-3Cs were used to enforce sanctions in the Adriatic against the former Yugoslavia. The 12 active patrol squadrons (down from 24 in 1991) all operate the P-3C Update III version, as do four of the seven reserve patrol squadrons. Remaining in service are 229 P-3Cs. Other P-3 variants still in service include four VP-3A executive transports, two UP-3 A utility transports, three NP-3C, and 12 NP-3D RDT&E and oceanographie survey aircraft. Numerous countries also fly the P-3 Orion, making it one of the more prevalent Navy aircraft available for foreign military sales and support. The EP-3E electronic reconnaissance variant is described separately in this section.

EP-3E ARIES Il

BRIEFING: The Navy operates 11 EP-3E Airborne Reconnaissance Integrated Electronic System II (ARIES II) land-based electronicreconnaissance aircraft in two fleet air reconnaissance squadrons located at Whidbey Island, Wash., (VQ-I) and Rota, Spain (VQ-2). The EP-3E deploys to intercept, collect, exploit, fuse, identify, and disseminate signals-intelligence (SIGINT) electronic emissions in support of joint, theater, and fleet commanders. During the 1990s, the Conversion-In-Lieu-Of-Procurement (CILOP) program converted 12 P-3Cs to an EP-3E ARIES II configuration to replace two EP3Bs and 10 EP-3E ARIES I aircraft converted from P-3As in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The last EP-3E ARIES II aircraft was delivered in 1997. The CILOP program will continue to achieve the program aircraft allowance of 12 aircraft plus four pipeline aircraft. The converted aircraft will begin to enter service in 2004 and allow force levels to be maintained during the aircraft's depot maintenance and sensor modernization programs.