Canada has entered into a government-to-government agreement to modernize five Portuguese Air Force P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft. The contract, valued at 39 million Canadian dollars ($28.7 million), will be managed by the Canadian Commercial Corporation and executed by General Dynamics Mission Systems Canada.
Under the program, the aircraft will receive upgrades designed to extend their operational lifespan and strengthen Portugal’s role in NATO maritime operations. The project follows a previous modernization agreement signed in 2022 covering Portugal’s earlier batch of P-3C aircraft and is expected to sustain up to 50 jobs across Canada’s defense and aerospace industries.
The Lockheed Martin P‑3C Orion remains a key asset for Portugal’s maritime surveillance operations, supporting missions such as anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance, and search-and-rescue across the Atlantic.
According to Maninder Sidhu, Canada’s minister of international trade, the initiative highlights the strengthening defense cooperation between Canada and Portugal.
Developed by Lockheed Martin, the P-3C Orion measures about 116 feet (35 meters) in length with a 100-foot (30-meter) wingspan and can accommodate up to 11 crew members. The aircraft can be equipped with air-to-surface and anti-ship missiles, standoff land-attack weapons, depth charges, naval mines, torpedoes, and various bomb types.
Powered by four Allison T56 turboprop engine units, each producing around 4,910 horsepower, and fitted with Hamilton Standard reversible propellers, the aircraft can reach a top speed of 411 knots (761 km/h). It has a range of about 1,345 nautical miles (2,490 km) and a service ceiling of 28,300 feet (8,626 meters).
