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Canadian firm to
provide P-3C simulators
REPLACING THE OLD: The 12 refurbished P-3C
Orions will replace Grumman S-2T Turbo Trackers acquired in the 1980s and will
help in anti-submarine warfare
By J. Michael Cole / Staff Reporter
Canadian firm CAE has been awarded a contract to design and manufacture a flight
simulator and tactical trainer for the P-3C ¡§Orion¡¨ maritime patrol aircraft
Taiwan has purchased from the US, the company announced in a March 23 press
release.
Under the terms of the contract, CAE will design and manufacture a P-3C
operational flight trainer (OFT) as well as a P-3C operational tactics trainer
(OTT). The P-3C OFT will be a Level D equivalent flight simulator and used to
train the pilots and co-pilots of Taiwan¡¦s P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft,
the press release said. The P-3C OTT will be used to train the sensor operators
in the P-3C aircraft.
Both training devices are scheduled for delivery in 2014.
The deal is part of a series of contracts signed by CAE, a leading provider of
simulation and modeling technologies and integrated training solutions for the
aviation industry and defense community, with the US Navy valued at more than
US$100 million.
Taiwan procured 12 P-3C aircraft from the US for US$1.9 billion in 2007
following a six-year delay stemming from political infighting and questions over
the estimated cost of US$300 million per new plane. Instead, Taiwan opted for
the purchase of 12 refurbished aircraft. US firm Lockheed Martin was awarded the
contract to refurbish the P-3Cs, sold as Excess Defense Articles. The first
aircraft is scheduled for delivery to Taiwanese training units in the US in
June, Defense News said, with the other 11 to be delivered this year and next.
The P-3Cs, which will play an essential role in anti-submarine warfare, are to
replace Taiwan¡¦s aging Grumman S-2T Turbo Trackers acquired in the 1980s.
According to Defense News, only a handful of the S-2Ts in the Taiwanese Navy¡¦s
lineup are still operational and none are mission capable.
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