The P-3 Orion is an aircraft conceived in the 1950s, which has now gained a life extension to carry out its surveillance missions in Brazilian Blue Waters .
Since 2018, Akaer has been working on the revitalization of the wings of the P-3AM Orion, an aircraft conceived in the 1950s, which is now gaining another ten years of useful life to operate and new impetus in carrying out its surveillance missions in Brazilian blue waters.
For this, Akaer replaced several elements of the wing, such as upper skins, front and rear spars, upper panels of the wing/fuselage center boxes, in addition to components from systems such as fuel and electric. This project will extend the fatigue life of the structure and allows the aircraft to continue to operate longer.
Akaer has technological innovation as an integral part of its everyday life and, in the case of the revitalization of the P-3AM’s wings, it couldn’t be different. From the very beginning, the project was also seen as a platform to integrate Industry 4.0 concepts and tools: the digital twin, advanced manufacturing, systems integration, among others.
The work is done in São José dos Campos/SP, at Akaer’s headquarters. After the revitalization process, the wings are delivered directly to the Galeão Aeronautical Material Park (PAMA-GL) in Rio de Janeiro/RJ, where they will be installed. The first wing was delivered to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) in the first half of 2021 and is already installed on the aircraft. The second wing will be delivered later this year and the third in the second half of 2022.
About P-3AM Orion The aircraft is responsible for the surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Brazil, which can reach 4.5 million km², which is why this work to adapt to new technologies is essential for this mission. The EEZ is a strip located beyond territorial waters, over which each coastal country has priority for the use of natural resources from the sea, both living and non-living, and responsibility for its environmental management, extending for up to 200 nautical miles more the area corresponding to the continental shelf.