Lockheed Martin plant that put it back together is in Marietta, GA. They pulled an aircraft from the "bone yard" swapping parts as required, I got to see the aircraft on several occasions and it is truly remarkable how much damage that aircraft sustained and now it is operational again. The Raytheon facility that will do the avionics upgrade is probably the facility in Waco, TX formerly ESI then Chrysler Technologies now Raytheon. Swish

LM Puts Navy Spy Plane Back in Air (Posted: Sunday, November 17, 2002)
[Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Nov. 16, 2002]

By DAVE HIRSCHMAN Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer

It came home in pieces on a Russian cargo plane.

Now, after 16 months of work by Lockheed Martin employees in Marietta, the Navy surveillance plane severely damaged in a mid-air collision with a Chinese fighter jet last year is flying once more.

The four-engine Lockheed EP-3 on Friday made its first flight since the April 1, 2001, collision, which erupted into an international flashpoint when the plane landed in China and its crew was detained.

The rebuilt spy plane took off from Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta at 11:08 a.m. Friday and flew for about two hours.

"Everything went smoothly on the first test flight," said Jim Saye, a spokesman at Lockheed Martin's plant next to the base.

The EP-3 was flying off the China coast when it was met by two Chinese fighters. One slammed into the EP-3's left wing, and the Chinese pilot was killed. The damaged American plane fell more than two miles before the pilots regained control and landed at a Chinese airfield.

China held the 24-member crew for 11 days and inspected every inch of the plane and its electronic eavesdropping equipment. U.S. officials had to dismantle the plane and hire a Russian cargo plane to carry the fuselage back to Marietta, where new wing, tail and nose components were installed.

Lockheed says the plane will make at least one more test flight before going to a Raytheon facility for updated electronics. Then it will return to regular duty.

"We're looking forward to getting it back in the fleet," said Bob Coble, a Navy spokesman.