The Hellenic navy, Lockheed Martin and Hellenic Aerospace Industry have launched a program to modernize and upgrade Greek P-3B Orion aircraft, Lockheed announced Monday.

The first of two Orions were transferred to HAI facilities north of Athens on July 13, Lockheed said in a statement.

The U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed Martin Aeronautics a not-to-exceed $142 million contract to modernize the aircraft for the Greek government.

The contract calls for the reactivation of one P-3B and the procurement of software and hardware kits for the upgrade and modernization of four of the aircraft.

The Mid-Life Upgrade, or MLU, kits will provide a 15,000 flight-hour service life extension.

The deal also provides for phased depot maintenance, a Greek indigenous mission integration and management system, new avionics and assorted ancillary hardware and services.

The P-3 Orion is used for standard maritime patrol and reconnaissance for missions that include homeland security, anti-piracy, humanitarian relief, search and rescue, intelligence gathering, anti-submarine warfare and air traffic control assistance.

In addition to Greek sites, work on the aircraft will be done in Georgia, South Carolina and Maryland.