The German Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced in a press release on 17 June that the modernisation of the navy's P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) is being halted because of cost and technical difficulties.
Germany has halted the upgrade of its navy’s P-3C Orion MPAs. (Bundeswehr/Sven Schwarze)
The ministry said the cancellation of the upgrade was decided following a German Navy analysis of the impact on P-3C availability, a project analysis by Airbus, and an economic risk analysis. Work on the mission equipment will therefore be halted.
However, the rewinging of two P-3Cs will be completed, the MoD said.
An Airbus spokesman told Janes on 23 June that it is in dialogue with the German MoD on the halt to the P-3C upgrade.
The MoD said delays in modernising the MPA have already resulted in reduced readiness without a forseeable improvement, exacerbated by a P-3C sustaining damage during refuelling at the end of March.
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