The P-3C Orion is a four-engine turbo-prop fixed-wing anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft with a range of 1,346 miles at a cruising speed of 330 knots (403 mph) at 25,000 feet.
They P-3C Orion was first developed in 1959 when the U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed a contract to replace its aging P-2V Neptune aircraft. The P-3C began service for the U.S. military in 1962.
PC-3 Orion have advanced submarine-detection sensors, including 84 buoys, and can carry up to 15,000 pounds of weapons such as rockets, missiles, mines, and anti-submarine torpedoes, internally and on wing pylons.
| Country of Origin | USA. |
|---|---|
| Similar Aircraft | Il-20 Coot, An-24 Coke, C-130 Hercules. |
| Crew | Ten. |
| Role | Reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare. |
| Armament | Torpedoes, depth charges. |
| Dimensions | Length: 116 ft, 8 in (35.6 m). Span: 99 ft, 7 in (30.4 m). |
P-3C Orion WEFT Description
| Wings | Low-mounted and forward tapered with blunt tips. Positive slant. |
|---|---|
| Engine(s) | Four turboprops mounted in the wings. Engine nacelles extend beyond the leading edges of the wings. |
| Fuselage | Cigar-shaped with rounded nose and stepped-up cockpit. Radar boom mounted on the rear of the tail. |
| Tail | Fin is rounded and tapered with a curved fairing. Flats are high-mounted on the fuselage, equally tapered, and a positive slant. |
Countries which Fly the P-3C Orion
Australia, Canada, Iceland, Iran, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, United States of America.