New Delhi, March 1
US Aviation major Lockheed-Martin said on Saturday that it was offering the Indian Navy its upgraded spy plane P3C Orions with new wings and tail and was in frontline contention for the Navy’s International tenders for eight maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

Richard G. Kirkland, Vice-President, Maritime Surveillance Enterprises of Lockheed-Martin, told newsmen here, “We are in hot contention with our new P3C Orions, which have completely been refurbished with new wing-spans and tails to serve almost a life time of 20 years”.

“We are offering the Navy the choice of sensors and equipment to be placed onboard and the configuration it wants either for long-range maritime reconnaissance or anti- submarine mode”, he said.

The earlier US Government offer of leasing four P3C Orion spy planes had not gone through due to prohibitive support-costs, the Lockheed-Martin official said, adding that the company was sure it would be “extremely competitive” in the Navy’s Request for Proposals (RFP) already floated. He, however, added that his company would be able deliver the planes in a short period.

Under the Navy’s RFP the bids have to be made by April-end with price negotiations to be completed by 2007 and first deliveries to commence within 48 months.

The acquisition of the spy planes has assumed significance for India as at a recent high-level meeting in the USA, participated by Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and others, warning bells were sounded over the mounting terrorist threats to Malacca sea-lanes. The participating nations wanted India to play a major policing role to curb sea-piracy in the region.