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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.

Contents

Design

Operating the P-3

Crew complement in U.S. service

Engine loiter shut-down

Hainan Island incident

Civilian uses

Variants

Operators

Specifications (P-3C Orion)

References

External links

Related content

Design

The P-3 Orion, originally designated 'P3V', 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 use 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 long 'stinger' in the tail which houses the magnetic anomaly detector (MAD), and convex windows for observation. Sonobuoys can be dropped from externally loaded tubes (P-3C and later) or from inside the fuselage (A/B variants).
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, aerial refueling tanker, or attempted a carrier landing like the C-130.
The P-3 is slated for replacement between 2010 - 2013 by the P-8 Poseidon, based upon the Boeing 737 civilian aircraft, which would result in a minimum time of service of 50 years.

Operating the P-3

Crew complement in U.S. service

Ten to twelve (10-12) crew members.

★ Aircraft Commander or Patrol Plane Commander ("PPC")

★ Co-pilot ("2P")

★ Third-pilot ("3P")

★ Flight Engineer (FE)

★ Second Flight Engineer (2FE)

★ Tactical Coordinator (TACCO)

★ Navigator/Communicator (NAV/COM)

★ Acoustic Sensor Operator 1 (Sensor 1)

★ Acoustic Sensor Operator 2 (Sensor 2)

★ Non-acoustic Sensor Operator, Radar/MAD (Sensor 3)

★ In-flight Technician (IFT)

★ Ordnanceman (ORD)
★
★ No longer used
★
★ (IFT has assumed duties)
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)

Engine loiter shut-down

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 remaining fuel permitting. 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.

Hainan Island incident

Main articles: Hainan Island incident

In April 2001 an aerial collision between an United States Navy EP-3E Aries II a signals reconnaissance version of the P-3C Orion and a People's Liberation Army Navy J-8IIM fighter jet resulted in an international incident between the United States and China. The J-8IIM fighter crashed and it's pilot was killed, the EP-3 made an emergency landing on Hainan, the crew and the plane were detained by Chinese authorities.

Civilian uses

A number of P-3s have been N-registered and are operated by civilian agencies. The United States Customs Service has a number of P-3A and P-3Bs used for maritime patrol. NOAA operates two WP-3D variants specially modified for hurricane research. One P-3B, N426NA, is used by NASA as an earth-science suborbital research platform for NASA, based at Goddard Space Flight Center's Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia.
Aero Union, Inc., operates eight P-3As configured as air tankers, which are leased to the U.S. Forest Service, the California Department of Forestry and other agencies for firefighting use.

Variants

★ '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. Eight aircraft with EADS avionics.

★ '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 subsequently 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 subsequently updated for the Portuguese Air Force. They are now being replaced by newer P-3C Update II.5 formerly 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' : Designation used internally by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to distinguish the first 10 P-3C aircraft procured in the P-3C Update 2 configuration (1978-79) from the second 10 aircraft which were procured in the Update 2.5 configuration (1982-83). The older aircraft were designated as P-3Cs and the newer aircraft P-3Ws. All were equipped with the British AQS-901 Acoustics Processor. Eventually with various system upgrades to the mission systems the two types mergerd into one and they are now all known as AP-3Cs

★ 'AP-3C' : All the Royal Australian Air Force P-3C/W aircraft which have been fully upgraded with totally new mission systems by L-3 Communications to include an Elta SAR/ISAR RADAR and a GD-Canada Acoustic Processor system.

★
★ '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-3CK': Designation of the eight former P-3B aircraft that the Republic of Korea Navy procured from the USN and which are in the process of being rebuilt with P-3C configuration wings and fitted with updated Mission System Equipment by Korea Aerospace Industries and L-3 Communications.

★ 'P-3AEW&C' (originally nicknamed "Sentinel") : 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-140s without the ASW equipment installed for Aurora crew training and various coastal patrol missions.

★ 'Orion 21' proposed new-build and improved variant for P-3 Orion replacement;lost to Boeing P-8.

★ In late 2006, the US announced that it intended to sell three P-3C Orions equipped with the E-2C Hawkeye 2000 AEW system to the Pakistan Navy, along with 10 regular P-3Cs. The AEW aircraft will provide Pakistan with search surveillance, and control capability in support of maritime interdiction operations.^[1]

Operators

User	Model	Home Base
Argentine Navy	6 P-3B	Base Aeronaval Alte. Zar, Trelew
Royal Australian Air Force	19 AP-3C (10 Sqn, 11 Sqn)	RAAF Base Edinburgh
Brazilian Air Force	8 P-3A(BR) in 2008	forming at Base Aerea de Santa Cruz or Base Aerea de Salvador.
Canadian Forces Air Command	18 CP-140, 3 CP-140A	CFB Comox, CFB Greenwood
Chilean Navy	4 P-3A	Base Aeronaval Torquemada, Con-Con
German Navy	8 P-3C (ex Dutch Navy)	NAS Nordholz
Hellenic Navy	6 P-3B	Eleusina Air Base
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force	5 P-3F (71ASW SQN)	Shiraz International Airport (Tadayon Air Base)
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force	101 P-3C, 5 EP-3, 1 UP-3C, 3 UP-3D	Various
Republic of China Navy (Taiwan)	12 P-3C (On order)	Taoyuan Air Base
Republic of Korea Navy	8 P-3C, 8 P-3CK	Pohang Air Base, Cheju-Do Air Base
Royal New Zealand Air Force	6 P-3K (5 Sqn)	RNZAF Base Auckland
Royal Norwegian Air Force	4 P-3C, 2 P-3N (333 Sqn)	Andøya Air Station
Pakistan Navy	10 P-3C & 3 P-3 AEW Requested
Portuguese Air Force	5 P-3C (Squadron 601)	Air Base 6 - Montijo
Spanish Air Force	2 P-3A, 5 P-3B	Morón Air Base
Royal Thai Navy	2 P-3T, 1 VP-3T	U-Taphao AB
United States Navy	Fleet reduction to 130 P-3C by 2010[2]	Various bases
United States Department of Homeland Security	AWACS[3], E-3	Unknown Base
Aero Union	8 P-3A	Chico, California

Specifications (P-3C Orion)

References

1. "Possible Sale to Pakistan of three P-3 aircraft with the E-2C HAWKEYE 2000(AEW) Suite" 07 December 2006 in PDF format
2. P-3C Orion long range ASW aircraft
3.

External links

★ P-3 Orion Research Group

★ Navy.mil - Standard Aircraft Characteristics: P-3C Update II

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