Submitted by TEAM Public Affairs, Pax River

The Naval Air Systems Command awarded the Boeing Company's Space and Communication Group, one of four concept exploration study contracts for the Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) program June 10.

The contract is worth $493,000.

The U.S. Navy commissioned these MMA studies because it will soon have to upgrade or replace its fleet of aging P-3 Orion and EP-3 Aries aircraft.

The Boeing study will explore various options for developing a military version of the 737-700 airframe.

This aircraft will fulfill the traditional P-3 and EP-3 missions while including the needed upgrades to meet the expanded requirements for the new MMA missions. Modifications will include the integration of specialized mission systems, sensors, weapons and stores deployment capability.

The results of this five-month study will be used by the Center for Naval Analysis, which is conducting the MMA Analysis of Alternatives. This analysis will examine a comprehensive range of MMA alternatives to select the preferred MMA concept.