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Lockheed Martin selected a variant of the Pratt and Whitney PW150A turboprop, a 7,000 shp-class engine, and the Hamilton Sundstrand NP2000, an eight-bladed composite propeller that is currently in production for the Navy's E-2C and C-2 aircraft retrofit program, to power its entry in the Navy's Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft competition. The Lockheed Martin entry is a highly updated derivative of the P-3 Orion maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft currently in service. The Navy forecasts a need for up to 150 aircraft to accomplish varied missions. The MMA is expected to enter service no later than 2012.
Illustration By Simon Rex-Lear |
