Chile will upgrade old patrol aircraft rather than buy new ones

[Judi Lynn]

Chile will upgrade old patrol aircraft rather than buy new ones

The Chilean navy has dropped plans to replace old patrol aircraft and will upgrade them instead with the hope of flying them right up to 2030.

Published: Aug. 13, 2013 at 3:27 PM






SANTIAGO, Chile, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- The Chilean navy has dropped plans to replace old patrol aircraft and instead will upgrade them with the hope of flying them another 17 years.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera has been making budgetary adjustments amid increased demands for government spending on infrastructure, education and energy development. Protests over education inequities and alleged favoritism of the privileged few have threatened to destabilize Pinera's administration.

Pinera's approval ratings have suffered as the protests continued.

While youth discontent simmers, the government has thought it wise to go easy on major defense outlays. It is also concentrating resources on developing the country's energy sector and defense spending isn't seen as a priority.

Although the Chilean navy is reported awash with cash accumulated from its mandated share of copper export earnings, the military is known to be a cautious spender.

More:
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2013/08/13/Chile-will-upgrade-old-patrol-aircraft-rather-than-buy-new-ones/UPI-75051376422069/#ixzz2bvXsiM9L

[Sherman A1]

1. Good

as long as they are safe to fly and can do the job, there is no reason to replace them.

[MADem]

2. They are flying P-3s. I'd hope they would carefully inspect the airframes,

because after a time, well, one has to be concerned about failures due to stress fractures. Those are very sturdy aircraft, and they've served USN well for many, many years. In fact, reconfigured ones were used as VIP aircraft in many theaters. They're a bit loud, but they provide a smooth ride, and they're accustomed to long missions.

I think hoping to extend the lives of these a/c for 17 more years might be a bit, well, ambitious. If I were counseling them, I'd advise a "go slow" procurement strategy, purchasing some new, while rehabbing the least worn of their inventory, and eventually replacing them all--just not straight away. Either that, or leasing one or two aircraft to add to their fleet on a "taste and try, if you don't like, don't buy" basis.