NEW YORK, N.Y., 1 March 2005. L-3 Communications announced today that its Link Simulation and Training (Link) division has been awarded a $13.3 million follow-on Lot II production contract from the U.S. Navy to build the first P-3C Tactical Operational Readiness Trainer (TORT).
Link, which received a $14.1 million contract in August 2004 to develop the P-3C TORT design, could see total program value grow to approximately $49 million when the Navy exercises additional contract options to upgrade four existing P-3C Tactical Aircrew Coordination Trainers (TACTs) to the TORT configuration. The initial P-3C TORT will be delivered in August 2006. Conversion of the final P-3C TACTs to the new P-3C TORT configuration will conclude in early 2007.
Upgrades to the Navy's P-3C Orion, which has been in service for over 40 years, began in the mid-1990s under the Anti-Surface Warfare Improvement Program (AIP) and have continued with additional mission system enhancements. As a result of the P-3C AIP effort, existing Orion aircraft have been upgraded with improvements in the areas of command, control, communications and intelligence; surveillance and survivability. P-3C AIP aircraft are now able to undertake both Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) missions.
"Link looks forward to continuing its long-term P-3C training support by supplying the U.S. Navy with the first training device that will allow the aircraft's crew to accomplish certified readiness training over a full mission spectrum," said John McNellis, president of Link Simulation and Training. "The ability to conduct high-fidelity ASW or ASuW training in a P-3C TORT will bring other advantages, including reducing the number of flight hours required to train crews and extending the life of the P-3C AIP fleet."
The P-3C TORT, which is designed to match the aircraft's interior physical arrangement, enables Orion crews to practice acquiring information from the aircraft's sensor systems and communicating the technical data to other aircraft or command centers. Within the high-fidelity P-3C TORT, the flight crew can practice simulated missions at the platform's tactical coordinator, navigation/communications, non-acoustic sensor and acoustic sensor stations. Mid-fidelity pilot and co-pilot stations, an improvement over similar stations found on P-3C TACTs, round out the TORT design.
In addition to delivery of the new P-3C TORT to Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Fla., Link will also upgrade the base's existing P-3C TACT to the TORT configuration. Link will conduct similar upgrades to P-3C TACT devices located at NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.; NAS Brunswick, Maine and U.S. Marine Corps Base Hawaii Kaneohe Bay.
Link Simulation and Training, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary, is a systems integration organization that delivers and supports training systems and equipment designed to enhance operational proficiency. Link's services include conducting front end analysis, simulator design and production and field support. Link is headquartered in Arlington, Texas, and has other key bases of operation in Binghamton, N.Y.; Orlando, Fla.; Broken Arrow, Okla. and Phoenix, Ariz.
Headquartered in New York City, L-3 Communications is a leading provider of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems, secure communications systems, aircraft modernization, training and government services and is a merchant supplier of a broad array of high technology products. Its customers include the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, selected U.S. Government intelligence agencies and aerospace prime contractors. For more information, see www.L-3com.com.
