P-3 Orion
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The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a maritime patrol aircraft of the United States military 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 an airliner against emerging pure jets. It served as the replacement for the postwar era P-2 Neptune. The Orion is powered by 4 powerful and efficient turboprops which give it 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 adaption 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 spectacularly 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 Multimission Maritime Aircraft (MMA), based upon their 737 civilian aircraft, which would result in a minimum time of service of a lengthy 50 years for such a venerable design.
Users
Variants
- P-3A: The original production version; 157 built.
- P-3A (CS): Four with better radar, for the US Customs.
- EP-3A: Seven modified for electronic reconnaissance testing.
- NP-3A: Three modified for the US 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 US Naval Research Laboratory.
- 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)
- * AP-3C : Upgraded version for the Royal Australian Air Force.
- EP-3 : ELINT aircraft for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force.
- NP-3C : One P-3C converted into a testbed for the US 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-3W : 20 P-3C-IIs for the RAAF, fitted with AQS-901 processors, and the Barra sonobuoy system.
- P-3AEW&C : Eight P-3B aircraft were converted into Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft. The P-3AEW&Cs are used by US 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.
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.
Specifications (P-3 Orion)
External links
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