VANCOUVER
, British Columbia
, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Canada has given the green light for the third and final phase of development of new radar for its CP140 maritime patrol planes.
Macdonald Dettwilet (MDA) is prime contractor in a $200 million project to deliver a new surveillance radar solution for the CP140 Aurora
, which conducts long-range patrols of Canada's coastal waters.
The Vancouver company said in a news release Friday that the third phase
, valued at about $78 million
, would complete ground testing of the prototypes developed in earlier phases
, and get the unit ready for full production. The company will then deliver 16 units for installation. MDA earlier completed the design work on the new radar and selected a hardware producer.
The Aurora
, a variant of the four-engine Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion
, was delivered to the Canadian military in the 1980s and is tasked with monitoring ship movements and ferreting out submarines. The Canadian fleet is in the midst of a modernization program that will include better capability to track targets on land and sea by radar. The planes will also have enhanced video surveillance
, communications and avionics systems. Initial modifications will start taking place this spring.Related Topics Articles: