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Back On The Beat Early

Posted 18 July 2013
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Photo by Leslie B. Farmer

The Mid-Life Upgrade, or MLU, modifications on the latest P-3 Orion for US Customs and Border Protection was completed seventy-eight days early on 18 July 2013 at the Lockheed Martin facility in Greenville, South Carolina. This is the eighth of fourteen Customs aircraft currently on contract to receive the MLU modifications and phased depot maintenance. It is the sixth Airborne Warning and Control variant to receive replacement wings and other structures. This aircraft’s distinctive radar rotodome will be reinstalled and it will then rejoin the Customs P-3 fleet. During FY 2012, the CBP P-3 fleet contributed to the seizure or disruption of more than 117,765 pounds of cocaine valued at more than $8.8 billion.

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