Time Period: Post-WW2
Country of Origin: United States
Type: Coastal Patrol Aircraft
Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Lockheed P-3 Orion Aircraft Overview
The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a long-range maritime patrol aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin. It is widely known for its versatility and effectiveness in various roles, including maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and search and rescue operations.
The P-3 Orion has a distinctive appearance, featuring a high-mounted wing, four turboprop engines, and a long fuselage. It is equipped with advanced sensor systems, including radar, sonobuoys, and electronic surveillance measures, allowing it to detect and track surface vessels, submarines, and other targets in the maritime environment.
The aircraft’s primary role is to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance missions over large bodies of water, ensuring maritime domain awareness and protecting national interests. In the ASW role, it can deploy sonobuoys and other ASW equipment to detect and locate submarines, providing vital information to friendly forces. Additionally, the P-3 Orion has been extensively used in search and rescue operations, thanks to its endurance, range, and capability to locate and assist distressed vessels or individuals at sea.
The P-3 Orion has served as a critical asset for numerous nations’ naval and air forces around the world for several decades. Over the years, various versions and upgrades of the P-3 Orion have been developed to enhance its capabilities, extend its service life, and adapt to evolving operational requirements.
Lockheed P-3 Orion Specifications
- Crew: 11
- Length: 116 ft 10 in (35.61 m)
- Wingspan: 99 ft 8 in (30.38 m)
- Height: 33 ft 8.5 in (10.274 m)
- Wing area: 1,300.0 sq ft (120.77 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 7.5
- Airfoil: root: NACA 0014 modified; tip: NACA 0012 modified
- Empty weight: 61,491 lb (27,892 kg)
- Zero-fuel weight: 77,200 lb (35,017 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 135,000 lb (61,235 kg) MTOW normal. 142,000 lb (64,410 kg) maximum permissible
- Maximum landing weight: (MLW) 103,880 lb (47,119 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 9,200 US gal (7,700 imp gal; 35,000 L) usable fuel in 5 wing and fuselage tanks ; (62,500 lb (28,350 kg) maximum fuel weight) ; 111 US gal (92 imp gal; 420 L) usable oil in 4 tanks
- Powerplant: 4 × Allison T56-A-14 turboprop engines, 4,910 shp (3,660 kW) each (equivalent)
- Propellers: 4-bladed Hamilton Standard 54H60-77, 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) diameter constant-speed fully-feathering reversible propellers
Lockheed P-3 Orion Performance
- Maximum speed: 411 kn (473 mph, 761 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4,572 m) and 105,000 lb (47,627 kg)
- Cruise speed: 328 kn (377 mph, 607 km/h) at 25,000 ft (7,620 m) and 110,000 lb (49,895 kg)
- Patrol speed: 206 kn (237 mph; 382 km/h) at 1,500 ft (457 m) and 110,000 lb (49,895 kg)
- Stall speed: 133 kn (153 mph, 246 km/h) flaps up. 112 kn (129 mph; 207 km/h) flaps down
- Combat range: 1,345 nmi (1,548 mi, 2,491 km) (3 hours on station at 1,500 ft (457 m))
- Ferry range: 4,830 nmi (5,560 mi, 8,950 km)
- Endurance: 17 hours 12 minutes at 15,000 ft (4,572 m) on two engines. 12 hours 20 minutes at 15,000 ft (4,572 m) on four engines
- Service ceiling: 28,300 ft (8,600 m). 19,000 ft (5,791 m) one engine inoperative (OEI)
- Rate of climb: 1,950 ft/min (9.9 m/s)
- Time to altitude: 25,000 ft (7,620 m) in 30 minutes
- Wing loading: 103.8 lb/sq ft (507 kg/m2)
- Power/mass: 0.1455 hp/lb (0.2392 kW/kg) (equivalent)
- Take-off run: 4,240 ft (1,292 m)
- Take-off distance to 50 ft (15 m): 5,490 ft (1,673 m)
- Landing distance from 50 ft (15 m): 2,770 ft (844 m)
Lockheed P-3 Orion Armament
- Hardpoints: 10 wing stations in total (3x on each wing and 2x on each wing root) and eight internal bomb bay stations with a capacity of 20,000 lb (9,100 kg), with provisions to carry combinations of:
- Rockets: None
- Missiles:
- Air-to-surface missile:4×AGM-65 Maverick, 6×AGM-84 Harpoon, 4×AGM-84 Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM-ER)
- Bombs:
- Depth charges, Mk 101 Lulu nuclear depth bomb,10×MK20 Rockeye, MK80 Series (18×MK82, MK83, MK84) general-purpose bombs, B57 nuclear bomb (US service only, retired 1993)
- Other:
- Mk 44 (mostly retired from service), 8× Mk 46, 6× Mk 50, 7× Mk 54 or MU90 Impact torpedoes
- Mk 25, Mk 39, Mk 55, 7× Mk 56, Mk 60 CAPTOR or 6× Mk 65 or 18× Mk 62 or 11×Mk 63 Quickstrike naval mines
- Active and passive Sonobuoys
