Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
P-3 Orion
| Lockheed P-3 Orion | ||
|---|---|---|
 P-3 Orion of the US Navy | ||
| Description | ||
| Role | Antisubmarine warfare(ASW)/Antisurface warfare (ASuW) | |
| Crew | 11 | |
| First Flight | 1959 | |
| Entered Service | 1962 | |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 116 ft 7 in | 35.57 m |
| Wingspan | 99 ft 6 in | 30.36 m |
| Height | 33 ft 7 in | 10.27 m |
| Wing area | 1,300 ft² | 120.8 m² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | 61,491 lb | 27,892 kg |
| Loaded | lb | kg |
| Maximum takeoff | 139,760 lb | 63,390 kg |
| Powerplant | ||
| Engines | 4 × Allison T-56-A-14 turboprops | |
| Power | 4,900 hp | 3,700 kW |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | 466 mph | 745 km/h |
| Combat range | 2,738.9 mi | 4,408 km |
| Ferry range | 5,562 mi | 8,950 km |
| Service ceiling | 28,300 ft | 8,600 m |
| Rate of climb | 3,140 ft/min | 957 m/min |
| Avionics | ||
| Avionics | ||
| Armament | ||
| Bombs | 20,000 lb | 9,000 kg |
| Missiles | AGM-84 Harpoon AGM-84E SLAM AGM-65 Maverick | |
| Rockets | ||
| Other | MK-46, MK-50 torpedoes Mines Depth charges | |
The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a patrol aircraft of the United States military used primarily for anti-submarine warfare.
The P-3 Orion is based on the Lockheed L-188 Electra. 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.
Over the years, many variants have been developed.
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 Island Flight Facility , Virginia.
The P-3 is slated for replacement between 2010-2013 by the Boeing MMA, based upon their 737 civilian aircraft. Australia is considering a navalized version of the Global Hawk as a replacement.
Variants
- P-3A: original production version; 157 built
- P-3A (CS): four with better radar, for US Customs
- EP-3A: seven modified for electronic reconnaissance testing
- NP-3A: three modified for US Naval Research Laboratory
- RP-3A: two modified for scientific uses, for Oceanographic Development Squadron at NAS Patuxent River
- TP-3A: 12 modified for training, ASW gear removed
- UP-3A: 38 used as utility transports, 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
- EP-3B
- NP-3B
- P-3C
- Update I
- Update II
- Update II.5
- Update III
- Update IV
- AP-3C upgrade (Royal
Australian Air Force)
- EP-3C
- NP-3C
- RP-3C
- UP-3C
- RP-3D
- WP-3D: two modified for NOAA weather research, including hurricane hunting
- EP-3E Aries
- EP-3E Aries II
- NP-3E
- P-3F
- P-3G
- P-3H
- EP-3J: two modified from P-3A's for FEWSG use
- P-3K: five delivered to New Zealand
- P-3N
- P-3P
- P-3W
- P-3AEW&C
- CP-140 Aurora
- CP-140A Arcturus
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