 |
|
|
|
| < P-3AM - FAB - Brasil
The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a maritime patrol aircraft used by numerous navies and air forces around the world, primarily for maritime patrol, reconnaissance, anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare. |
|
 |
Development
The P-3 Orion, originally designated P3V, is based on the same design philosophy as the Lockheed L-188 Electra. It is not the same aircraft structurally in that it has had 7 ft (2.1 m) of fuselage removed forward of the wings, as well as myriad internal, external, and airframe production technique enhancements. The prototype YP3V-1/YP-3A BuNo 148276 was in fact modified from the third Electra airframe c/n 1003. The P-3 Orion served as the replacement for the postwar era P-2 Neptune and P-5 Marlin. The Orion is powered by four Allison T56 turboprops which give it a speed comparable to fast propeller powered fighters, or even slow turbofan jets such as the A-10 Thunderbolt II or the S-3 Viking. |
 |
Many other countries have seen the value of this platform design and have developed similar patrol aircraft based on this model, with the Soviets adapting their own counterpart to the Orion, the Ilyushin Il-38. The P-3 also competes with the British Hawker Siddeley Nimrod adaptation of the de Havilland Comet and the French Breguet Atlantique. |
 |
< P-3B - Armada Argentina The first Orion prototype was a converted Lockheed Electra.The first production version, designated P3V-1, first flew 15 April 1961. Initial squadron deliveries to Patrol Squadron EIGHT (VP-8) and Patrol Squadron FORTY FOUR (VP-44) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland began in August 1962. On 18 September 1962, the U.S. military transitioned to a unified designation system for all services, redesignating the aircraft as the P-3A. |
 |
Paint schemes have changed from an early 1960s blue and white scheme, to a mid-1960s white and gray, to a mid-1990s flat finish low visibility gray with fewer and smaller subdued markings. In the early 2000s, the P-3C fleet transitioned to a gloss gray finish with the original full-size color markings. However, large size Bureau Numbers on the vertical stabilizer and squadron designations on the fuselage remained omitted. Over the years, more than 40 combatant & noncombatant variants of the P-3 have been developed due to the rugged reliability displayed by the platform flying 12 hour plus missions 200 ft (61 m) over salt water while maintaining an excellent safety record. |
 |
Versions have been developed for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for research and hurricane hunting/hurricane wall busting, for the U.S. Customs Service (now U.S. Customs and Border Protection) for drug interdiction and aerial surveillance mission with a rotodome adapted from the E-2 Hawkeye or an AN/APG-66 radar adapted from the F-16 Fighting Falcon, and for NASA for research and development. |
 |
The United States Navy remains the largest operator of the P-3, currently distributed between a single fleet replacement (i.e., "training) patrol squadron, 12 active duty patrol squadrons, two Navy Reserve patrol squadrons, and two active duty special projects patrol squadrons and two active duty test and evaluation squadrons. Two additional active duty fleet reconnaissance squadrons operate the EP-3 Aries signals intelligence (SIGINT) variant. The U.S. Navy's P-3C aircraft are slated for replacement beginning in 2013 by the Boeing P-8 Poseidon, which is based upon the Boeing 737 airliner.
|
 |
Design
P-3A of VP-49 in the original blue/white colours underside view of a P-3C showing the MAD (rear boom) and external sonobuoy launch tubes (grid of black spots towards the rear) Allison T56-A-14 propThe P-3 has an internal bomb bay under the front fuselage which can house conventional Mark 50 torpedoes or Mark 46 torpedoes and/or special (nuclear) weapons. |
 |
Additional underwing stations, or pylons, can carry other armament configurations including the AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-84E SLAM, AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER, the AGM-65 Maverick, 5 in (127 mm) Zuni rockets, and various other sea mines, missiles, and gravity bombs. The aircraft also had the capability to carry the AGM-12 Bullpup guided missile until that weapon was withdrawn from U.S./NATO/Allied service. Link |
 |
Lockheed P-3A 'Orion' Description Notes: Asw patrol aircraft. Military version of lockheed "Electra" also staff transport version (10 CREW). |
 |
Base model: P-3 Designation: P-3 Version: A Nickname: Orion Equivalent to: P3V-1 P3V1P3V-1 Designation System: U.S. Tri-Service Designation Period: 1962-Present Basic role: Patrol |
 |
Specifications Length: 116' 10" 35.6 m Height: 33' 8" 10.2 m Wingspan: 99' 8" 30.3 m Wingarea: 1,300.0 sq ft 120.7 sq m |
 |
Empty Weight: 61,491 lb 27,887 kg |
 |
Propulsion No. of Engines: 4 Powerplant: Allison T56-A-10W Horsepower (each): 4500 |
 |
Performance Range: 4,765 miles 7,673 km |
 |
Climb: 1,950 ft/min 594 m/min Ceiling: 28,300 ft 8,625 m |
 |
Known serial numbers 28-189 / 28-193, 152140 / 152187 Link |
 |
Drawings Link |
 |
|
| P-3AM - FAB Brasil - Video |
