The Portuguese Air Force recently agreed on the modernization of five of its P-3C Orion with the company General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada. The objective of the government-to-government contract aims at updating the maritime surveillance aircraft that Portugal recently incorporated, based on the experience of a similar agreement signed in 2022.
According to what was reported by the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), the agreement for the modernization of the five P-3C Orion patrol aircraft amounts to 39 million dollars. “…Through this government-to-government contract, we combine Canada’s proven contracting expertise with the advanced technological solutions of General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada to deliver upgrades that improve NATO interoperability and strengthen Portugal’s maritime patrol capability…,” commented Bobby Kwon, President and Chief Executive Officer of the CCC.
It is worth recalling that the government of Portugal decided to move forward with the modernization of the P-3C Orion at the end of 2025. The project contemplates that the recently incorporated aircraft, coming from Germany, receive new Link 16 Cryptographic Modernization data link systems, an AIS (Automatic Identification System), as well as an update of their acoustic systems used in anti-submarine warfare and maritime surveillance missions.
With this initiative, the Portuguese Air Force aims at the standardization of its Orion fleet, since it is composed of aircraft of the P-3C CUP (Capability Upkeep Program) II variant, acquired from Germany, and the P-3C CUP+, purchased from the Netherlands. Once the modernization and improvements are implemented, the Portuguese P-3s will have the same operational standard, having optimized their capabilities for reconnaissance operations, land and maritime patrol, as well as for long-range search and rescue operations.
As we reported previously, the Portuguese Ministry of Defense established a phased investment schedule for the modernization of the German P-3C Orion. The project, which will extend until 2028, contemplated payments with an initial allocation of 800 thousand euros in 2025, 4.2 million in 2026, and two allocations of 9.5 million for 2027 and 2028 respectively.
P-3C CUP+ and P-3C of the Portuguese Air Force
The Portuguese Air Force (FAP) P-3C CUP+ surveillance and patrol aircraft are the result of a modernization program of five P-3C acquired in 2005 from the Netherlands, with the first prototype delivered in September 2010.
As detailed by the FAP, the P-3C CUP+ variant “…retains all the maritime patrol capabilities inherited from the P-3P, namely anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), and search and rescue (SAR). In addition, a set of modern sensors, together with a fully integrated tactical mission system, allows the P-3C CUP+ to also operate in various land missions. It is also equipped with a missile and laser warning self-protection system (MLWS), which allows the detection of threats and the firing of countermeasures…”.
In 2023, Portugal moved forward with the acquisition of six P-3C Orion CUP II from the German Navy. The Portuguese purchase contemplates the entire inventory of Germany’s P-3C Orion fleet, which included the aircraft, mid-life upgrade (MLU) kits, spare parts, support equipment and test benches, as well as flight and tactical procedure simulators. The first aircraft was received in February 2024.
The purchase of the German P-3C Orion was considered by Portuguese authorities as a great opportunity and a necessity, since their incorporation would guarantee the Portuguese Air Force “…the operation of the P-3C CUP+ weapon system in the coming years without significant restrictions, thus ensuring sustained high availability. Without these resources, the increase in the current availability of the aircraft will be compromised, which experience increasingly longer periods of unavailability due to the need to carry out maintenance tasks for which there is no material available on the market…”.
The P-3C Orion are equipment assigned to Squadron 601 “Lobos”, a unit based at Beja Air Base.
*Illustrative cover image. Credits: FAP.
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