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NEW YORK, N.Y., Aug. 26, 2004. L-3 Communications today announced that its Link Simulation and Training division (Link) has been awarded a $14.1 million contract from the U.S. Navy to build a P-3C Tactical Operational Readiness Trainer (TORT).
Total program value is expected to grow to approximately $49 million upon the Navy exercising 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 TACT 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 with the Anti-Surface Warfare Improvement Program (AIP) in the mid 1990s and continue 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.
"The Link-built P-3C TORT is the first training device that will allow the aircraft's intelligence gathering crew to accomplish certified crew readiness training over its full mission spectrum for the P-3C AIP configuration," 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 also reduce the number of flight hours required to train crews and help extend 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 U.S. 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 has its headquarters operation in Arlington, Texas and other key bases of operation in Binghamton, N.Y., Orlando, Fla., Broken Arrow, Okla., and Phoenix, Ariz.
For more information, see www.L-3com.com.
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