P-3 Orion

P-3 Orion
U.S. Navy P-3 Orion
Type	Maritime patrol aircraft
Manufacturer	Lockheed
Maiden flight	1959-11-25
Introduced	1962
Primary users	United States Navy German Navy Royal Australian Air Force Spanish Air Force
Developed from	Lockheed L-188 Electra
Variants	CP-140 Aurora

The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a maritime patrol aircraft of numerous militaries around the world, used primarily for maritime patrol, reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare.

Design

The P-3 Orion is based on the Lockheed L-188 Electra which met limited success as a turboprop airliner competing against emerging pure jets. It served as the replacement for the postwar era P-2 Neptune. The Orion is powered by 4 turboprops which give it a speed comparable to fast propeller powered fighters, or even slow turbofan jets such as the A-10. Most other similar patrol aircraft have adopted this model, with Soviets adapting their own counterpart to the Electra. The P-3 also competes with the British Nimrod adaptation of the Comet and the French Breguet Atlantique. Experience with the P-3 helped with the S-3 Viking carrier-borne ASW jet.

The P-3 has an internal bomb bay under the front fuselage, as well as underwing stations which can carry missiles such as the AGM-84 Harpoon. It has a characteristic long stinger in the tail which houses the MAD magnetic detector, and domed windows for observation. Sonobuoys can be dropped from externally loaded tubes, or from inside the fuselage.

The first production version, designated P3V-1, first flew 15 April 1961, but by the time the first deliveries were made in 1962, the unified designation system made this the P-3. Paint schemes have changed from overall postwar blue, to 1960s white and grey, and 1980s low viz gray.

Over the years many variants have been developed. The technology of the P-3 is similar to the larger, slower, and more successful C-130 Hercules transport. Similar versions have been developed for hurricane hunting, and aerial surveillance with a rotodome adapted from the E-2 Hawkeye. Despite higher performance, the P-3 has not been adapted into gunship or ground attack precision attack platform, or aerial refueling like the C-130, nor attempted a carrier landing.

The P-3 Orion has found special use as an earth-science suborbital research platform for NASA. Known as callsign NASA 426, this aircraft is located at Goddard Space Flight Center's Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia.

The P-3 is slated for replacement between 2010-2013 by the Boeing P-8 Poseidon, based upon their 737 civilian aircraft, which would result in a minimum time of service of 50 years.

Crew Compliment in US service

Ten to twelve (10-12) crew members.

• Aircraft Commander or Patrol Plane Commander ("PPC")
• Co-pilot ("2P")
• Third-pilot ("3P")
• Flight Engineer (FE)
• Tactical Coordinator (TACCO)
• Navigator/Communicator (NAV/COM)
• Acoustic Sensor operator 1 (Sensor 1)
• Acoustic Sensor operator 2 (Sensor 2)
• Radar/MAD operator (Sensor 3)
• In-flight Technician (IFT)
• Ordnanceman (ORD)**No longer used**

Other operators have a varying number of crew on board, depending on their equipment fitout and aircraft role.For example, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircraft do not have a dedicated Ordnancemen, with that role on the aircraft being supplied by spare crew members from any of the other categories. Also, the RAAF aircraft operate with a ESM operator (Sensor 4), a Sensor Employment Manager (SEM) and a second Flight Engineer (with no In-Flight technician)

Users

Variants

P-3C Orion

MAD rear boom

A P-3K Orion maritime patrol aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in an early colour scheme

P-3C Orion

• P-3A: The original production version; 157 built.
• P-3A (CS): Four with better radar, for the U.S. Customs.
• EP-3A: Seven modified for electronic reconnaissance testing.
• NP-3A: Three modified for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.
• RP-3A: Two modified for scientific uses, for the Oceanographic Development Squadron at NAS Patuxent River.
• TP-3A: 12 modified for training duties, with all the ASW gear removed.
• UP-3A: 38 used as utility transports, with all the ASW gear removed.
• VP-3A: Three WP-3As and two P-3As converted into VIP/staff transports.
• WP-3A: Four converted for weather reconnaissance.
• P-3B : The second main production version.
• EP-3B : Two P-3As converted into ELINT aircraft, during the Vietnam War.
• NP-3B : One P-3B converted into a testbed, for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.
• P-3BR : Modification to P-3A model for Brazilian Air Force.
• P-3C : The third main production version.
  • P-3C Update I : With new and improved avionics, 31 built.
  • P-3C Update II : With infra-red detection, sonobuoy reference systems, and able to carry the Harpoon anti-ship missile, 44 built.
  • P-3C Update II.5 : 24 aircraft with more reliable navigation and communications equipment.
  • P-3C Update III : 50 aircraft with new acoustic processor, sonobuoy receiver, and improved APU.
  • P-3C Update IV: AIP(US)/UIP(RNoAF)
• EP-3 : ELINT aircraft for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force.
• NP-3C : One P-3C converted into a testbed for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.
• RP-3C : One P-3C modified to replace the RP-3A.
• OP-3C : 10 P-3C converted to reconnaissance aircraft for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force.
• UP-3C : Equipment test aircraft for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force.
• UP-3D : ELINT training aircraft for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force.
• RP-3D : One P-3C modified for atmospheric research, to collect atmospheric data.
• WP-3D: Two P-3Cs modified for NOAA weather research, including hurricane hunting.
• EP-3E Aries : 10 P-3As and 2 EP-3Bs converted into ELINT aircraft.
• EP-3E Aries II : 12 P-3Cs converted into ELINT aircraft.
• NP-3E : Various aircraft used for tests.
• P-3F : Six P-3C Orions delivered to the Imperial Iranian Air Force in the late 1970s.
• P-3G : The original designation of the Lockheed P-7.
• P-3H : Proposed P-3C upgrade.
• EP-3J : Two modified from P-3A's for FEWSG use.
• P-3K : five aircraft originally of P3B standard but subsquently updated, delivered to New Zealand in 1965-67, replacing Short Sunderlands. The original P3Bs are operated by No. 5 Squadron RNZAF from Whenuapai, Auckland. These received part of the P3C update II package and some local innovations, then being designated P3K (for Kiwi), together with a P3B purchased second hand from the Royal Australian Air Force and brought up to P3K standard. The aircraft were recently re-winged and are undergoing a further round of avionics and sensor updates in 2005.
• P-3N : Two P-3B modified for coastguard missions for the RNoAF.
• P-3P : Six ex-RAAF originally of P-3B standard but subsquently updated for the Portuguese Air Force. They are now being replaced by newer P-3C Update II.5 formely operated by the Royal Netherlands Navy.
• P-3T : Two P-3A modified for Royal Thai Navy.
  • VP-3T : One P-3A modified for Royal Thai Navy VIP use and some surveillance operations.
• P-3W : 20 P-3C-IIs for the RAAF, fitted with AQS-901 processors, and the Barra sonobuoy system.
• AP-3C : Upgraded version for the Royal Australian Air Force using the P-3W airframes.
  • TAP-3: 3 modified B-models for training duties with the Royal Australian Air Force, with all the ASW gear removed and passenger seating installed. Removed from service with the full introduction into service of the AP-3C Simulator. Designator reflected them as being 'Training Australian P-3'
• P-3AEW&C : Eight P-3B aircraft were converted into Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft. The P-3AEW&Cs are used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for drug interdiction and homeland security missions. "Slicks" are P-3s with an optical sensor turret in the nose which often work with the AEW ships.
• CP-140 Aurora : Longe-range maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare aircraft for the Canadian Armed Forces. It is based on the P-3 Orion airframe, but mounts the more advanced electronics suite of the S-3 Viking.
• CP-140A Arcturus : Three CP-140 Auroras modified to carry out coastal patrols. All the ASW equipment has been removed.

On many missions, an engine is often shut down (usually engine Number One, the left outer engine) once on station to extend the time aloft (and range when at low level) by conserving fuel. On occasion both outboard engines will be shutdown, aircraft weight, weather, and fuel-remaining being considerations. Long border patrol missions can last over 10 hours, and may include extra pilots and crew. The record for the longest flight for a P-3 model is 21.5 hours, on a flight undertaken by the Royal New Zealand Air Force's No. 5 Squadron in 1972.

Engine Number one is the primary engine for 3-engine loiter shutdown because it is the only one of the P-3's four engines that does not have a generator, hence it is not needed for powering onboard electrical systems. It also removes the exhaust stream for that engine, increasing the visibility from the primary observer stations on the port side of the aircraft.

Specifications (P-3 Orion)

General characteristics<h3>

• Crew: 11
• Length: 116 ft 10 in (35.6 m)
• Wingspan: 99 ft 8 in (30.4 m)
• Height: 33 ft 8.5 in (10.3 m)
• Wing area: 1300 ft² (120.8 m²)
• Empty weight: 61,500 lb (27,900 kg)
• Loaded weight: lb (kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 139,760 lb (63,400 kg)
• Powerplant: 4× Allison T56-A-14 turboprop, 4,600 shp (3,700 kW) each

<h3>Performance<h3>

• Maximum speed: 466 mph (745 km/h)
• Range: 5,600 miles ferry (9,000 km)
• Service ceiling: 28,300 ft (8,600 m)
• Rate of climb: 3,140 ft/min (16 m/s)
• Wing loading: 107 lb/ft² (530 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.03 hp/lb (0.06 kW/kg)

<h3>Armament<h3>

• Bombs: 20,000 lb (9,000 kg)
• Missiles: AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-84E SLAM, the Standoff Land Attack Missile, AGM-65 Maverick
• Other: MK-46 and MK-50 torpedoes, mines, depth charges

External links

• P-3 Orion Research Group
• Navy.mil - Standard Aircraft Characteristics: P-3C Update II

Related content

Related development<h3>

• Lockheed L-188 Electra
• CP-140 Aurora
• Lockheed P-7

• P-8 Poseidon
• Avro Shackleton
• Breguet Atlantique
• Hawker-Siddeley Nimrod

• P-2 - P-3 - P-5 - P-6 - P-7

• List of military aircraft of the United States
• List of active United States military aircraft
• List of Lockheed aircraft

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