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Product Type: |
P-3C Orion: ASW, ASuW, and ISR Aircraft |
Using Service (US): |
Navy |
Program Status: |
No more new aircraft will be procured. |
Prime Contractor: |
The Lockheed
P-3C Orion and EP-3E ARIES II are long-range maritime surveillance aircraft. Both aircraft are powered by
four Rolls-Royce Allison T56-A-14
turboprop engines with 4,600 shp each. The P-3 has been the U.S. Navy's frontline, land-based maritime patrol aircraft since the 1960s.
According to Lockheed Martin, more than 400 P-3s are in service with 21 operators from 16 countries.
The P-3C Orion, first delivered in 1969, performs Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) and Intelligence,
Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) in support of battle group and littoral operations.
The P-3C Orion will eventually be replaced by the Boeing P-8A Poseidon
Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft and the MQ-4C Triton BAMS UAV.
The P-3C is equipped with a Raytheon AN/APS-137 multi-mission surveillance radar.
Other systems onboard include the Lockheed Martin
AN/ALQ-78 airborne electronic surveillance receiver,
L-3 Communications MX-15 surveillance and targeting turret aka AN/ASX-6,
AN/ARC-230 Airborne HF Radio, AN/USQ-130 Data Link, AN/ASW-60 Autopilot,
AN/ASQ-81 Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) system (for submarine detection),
AN/ASA-65 magnetic compensator, BAE Systems AN/APX-118 IFF transponder,
ITT Exelis
AN/ALR-95 Electronic Support Measures (ESM) system, AN/ALR-66 Radar Warning Receiver,
Alliant Techsystems AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning System,
and the AN/ARR-72 sonobuoy receiving system and AN/ARR-78 sonobuoy communication link.
During the 1990s, twelve P-3C Orion aircraft were converted to the EP-3E ARIES II configuration to replace older ARIES I aircraft.
The EP-3E ARIES II (Airborne Reconnaissance Integrated Electronic System II) is the Navy's only land-based signals intelligence (SIGINT)
reconnaissance aircraft. The 11 aircraft in the Navy's inventory are based on the P-3C Orion airframe and provide
fleet and theater commanders worldwide with near real-time tactical SIGINT. With sensitive receivers and high-gain dish antennas,
the EP-3E exploits a wide range of electronic emissions from deep within targeted territory. The last EP-3E ARIES II aircraft was delivered in 1997.
The replacement aircraft for the EP-3E will be the MQ-4C Triton
BAMS UAV.
U.S. Navy P-3Cs and EP-3Es are currently being heavily modified as part of the Lockheed Martin Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) Program,
which will ensure uninterrupted P-3/EP-3 operations for an additional 20–25 years or 15,000 flight hours.
The MLU Program replaces the aircraft's outerwings, the center wing lower section, the horizontal stabilizers,
and the horizontal stabilizer leading edges.
The P-3C carries a mixed payload of weapons in eight internal bomb bay stations and on ten external under-wing hardpoints with a maximum capacity of 20,000 pounds of mixed ordnance. The aircraft carries AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-84E SLAM, AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER; AGM-65 Maverick missiles; and Mk 46/50/54 torpedoes. The EP-3E carries no ordnance.
The P-3C Orion performs Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW); Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW); and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The EP-3E is a Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) reconnaissance aircraft and its mission is to detect and track enemy radars and communication systems.
The overall goal of the modifications budgeted in FY 2012 is to continue aircraft sustainment, including AN/USQ-78(V) improvements; communication, navigation, and surveillance improvements; upgrades/modifications to airframe components/systems (including outer wing replacements); safety improvements; and key system obsolescence upgrades. FY 2012 Provides $265 million for aircraft modifications, of which $170.5 million is for the P-3C and $94.5 million for the EP-3E. FY 12 also provides $3.4 million in RDT&E funds for the P-3C.
The overall goal of the modifications budgeted in FY 203 is to continue aircraft sustainment. P-3C aircraft require Communications, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) upgrades to meet expanding CNS/ATM requirements and ensure global access to commercial airspace. Also, the Special Structural Inspection Kits Program will capture the P-3/EP-3 aircraft's test demonstrated fatigue life by replacing airframe structural components in fatigue life-limiting critical regions of the P-3/EP-3 aircraft to enable the airframe to fully reach its designed service life but will not extend the fatigue life of those aircraft. The EP-3E JASA Modification will upgrade the capabilities of the SSIP configuration of the EP-3E. In total, FY 2013 Provides $227.8 million for aircraft modifications, of which $148.4 million is for the P-3C and $79.4 million for the EP-3E. FY 13 also provides $3.5 million in RDT&E funds for the P-3C. For more information, click to view the Complete FY 2013 P-3C Budget and the Complete FY 2013 EP-3E Budget.
Source: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Lockheed Martin Corp.
Last Update: January 28, 2013.
By Joakim Kasper Oestergaard /// (jkasper@bga-aeroweb.com)
Lockheed Martin's P-3 Site: P-3 Orion
YouTube: The Lockheed P-3 Orion | YouTube Videos
Fact Sheet: Lockheed Martin | P-3 Orion
P-3C/EP-3E U.S. Defense Budget Charts: |
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Primary Function: Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and Anti-surface warfare (ASuW) |
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Primary Function: Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) reconnaissance aircraft |
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