Overview
The P-3 Orion is a four-engine turboprop maritime patrol aircraft developed from the Lockheed L-188 Electra airliner. For decades it hunted submarines using sonobuoys dropped into the sea, radar and a magnetic detector in its long tail "stinger".
More than 750 were built, including about 100 by Kawasaki in Japan. The US Navy has replaced it with the jet-powered P-8 Poseidon, but Orions still fly with several countries, and Canada's CP-140 Aurora is a close relative.
Specifications
Dimensions
| Length | 35.60 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 30.37 m |
| Height | 10.27 m |
| Wing area | 120.8 m² |
Weights & fuel
| Empty weight | 35,000 kg |
|---|---|
| Max. take-off weight | 64,400 kg |
Performance
| Max. speed | 750 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed | 607 km/h |
| Ferry range | 8,940 km |
| Combat radius | 2,490 km |
| Service ceiling | 8,600 m |
Crew & capacity
| Crew | 11 |
|---|---|
| Hardpoints | 10 |
Powerplant
| Engines | 4 |
|---|---|
| Engine model | Allison T56-A-14 |
| Power (each) | 3,661 kW |
Figures are compiled from public sources and may be approximate; they can vary by variant and configuration.
Armament
- Torpedoes, depth charges and mines in an internal bomb bay
- Harpoon anti-ship missiles on wing pylons
Photos
Photo 1: 海上自衛隊 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Some text and images come from Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA licences.
