Gulf Helicopters of Qatar ordered 15 AgustaWestland AW189s on November 18, the single largest order to date for the type. The deal firms up a preliminary contract signed in early 2012. The helicopters will be delivered between 2014 and 2017 and used to support offshore energy production.More than 20 former US Navy Lockheed S-3B Viking aircraft are being sought by the Republic of Korea to bolster its maritime surveillance, anti-shipping and antisubmarine warfare capabilities. They would be acquired under the third phase of the Maritime Patrol Aircraft programme, following two batches of Lockheed P-3CI CK Orions. The Vikings would be cheaper to acquire than additional Orions or new Airbus Military C295s, Lockheed Martin SC-130J Hercules or Boeing P-8 Poseidons, the alternatives considered. Only two S-3Bs remain airworthy with the US Navy as test aircraft and NASA's Glenn Research Center in Ohio operates one. More than 100 remain stored at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona.
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