P-3C Orion Anti-Sub Bomber Soaring In The Sunset

Orion.

During the Cold War, covert reconnaissance became the norm and preventing loss of information was of the highest importance. Soviet submarines often infiltrated American waters threatening to attack with nuclear payloads. Fortunately, the Lockheed P-3 Orion was created to protect America’s coastlines from Soviet Submarines.

The Orion is four-engine marine patrol aircraft introduced in 1962 as part coastal protection program. The original purpose of the P-3 was patrolling coastlines and attacking enemy submarines if they were detected. To track down submarines the P-3 would fly low above the surface using a magnetic anomaly detector for disturbances in the water. Armed with depth charges, nuclear depth bombs and air-to-surface missiles to thwart enemy vessels or summon other aircraft for an attack.

General Characteristics

• Crew: 11[1]
• Length: 116 ft 10 in (35.6 m[79])
• Wingspan: 99 ft 8 in[79] (30.4 m)
• Height: 38 ft 8 in[79] (11.8 m)
• Wing area: 1300 ft² (120.8 m²)
• Airfoil: NACA 0014-1.10 (Root) – NACA 0012-1.10 (Tip)
• Empty weight: 77,200 lb (35,000 kg[79])
• Useful load: 57,800 lb (26,400 kg)
• Loaded weight: 135,000 lb (61,400 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 142,000 lb (64,400 kg[79])
• Powerplant: 4[1] × Allison T56-A-14[1] turboprop[1], 4,600 shp[1] (3,700 kW) each
• Propellers: Four-bladed Hamilton Standard propeller[1], 1 per engine
• Propeller diameter: 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 411 kn[1] (750 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 328 kn[1] (610 km/h)
• Range: 2,380 nmi radius[1] (4,400 km)
• Combat radius: 1,346 nmi[1] (2,490 km) three hours on-station at 1,500 feet
• Ferry range: 4,830 nmi[79] (8,944 km)
• Endurance: 16 hours[79]
• Service ceiling: 28,300 ft[1] (8,625 m)
• Rate of climb: 3,140 ft/min (16 m/s)
• Wing loading: 107 lb/ft² (530 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.136 hp/lb at max gross (0.23 kW/kg)

Armament

• Guns: None
• 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)[1] and provisions to carry combinations of:
• Rockets: None
• Missiles:
  • Air-to-surface missile: AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-84 Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM-ER)[1]
• Bombs:
  • Depth charges, Mk 101 Lulu nuclear depth bomb, MK20 Rockeye, MK80 Series (MK82, MK83, MK84) general purpose bombs, B57 nuclear bomb (US service only, retired 1993)
• Other:
  • Mk 44 (mostly retired from service), Mk 46,[1] Mk 50, Mk 54 or MU90 Impact torpedoes
  • Mk 25, Mk 39, Mk 55, Mk 56, Mk 60 CAPTOR or Mk 65 Quickstrike naval mines[80]
  • Stonefish naval mine (in Australian service)
  • Active and passive Sonobuoys

Although this plane is over 50 years old it is still a highly capable plane serving four nations with over 700 units produced. For a better look at the aerial skills of the P-3 Orion check out this clip from EdoStuff.