Lockheed P-3 Orion
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Role:
Antisubmarine warfare and sea surveillance
DESIGN FEATURES:
The P-3 Orion is based on the old Lockheed Electra airliner. This lumbering, ungainly, maritime
patrol plane appears harmless, but is actually a very potent ASW platform. In fact, the Orion is
almost as effective at hunting and detecting submarines as another submarine (when given a location
in which to hunt by the SOSUS network). With a wide variety of first-line sensors, sophisticated
on-board data processing, and a large weapons load, the P-3 is an extremely effective aircraft.
The distinctive rear protuberance is a Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD), which can warn the
aircraft when it is over a large metal object. In addition, the P-3 has an extended range and a
patrol endurance of up to ten hours. Normally carrying a crew of ten, five members are technical
specialists who operate the aircraft's electronic equipment. In addition to its ASW weapons, the
Orion can also carry Harpoon missiles for attacking lightly defended surface targets.
EXTERNAL DIMENSIONS:
Wing Span: 99 ft. 8 in
Wing Chord 18 ft 11 in (root), 7 ft 7 in (tip)
Wing Aspect Ratio: 7.5
Length Overall: 116 ft 10 in
Height Overall: 33 ft 8.5 in
Fuselage Diameter: 11 ft 4 in
Propeller Diameter: 13 ft 6 in
WEIGHTS (P-3B/C):
Weight Empty: 61,491 lb
Max Fuel Weight: 62,500 lb
Max Expendable Load: 20,000 lb
Max Normal T-O Weight: 135,000 lb
Max Permissible Weight:142,000 lb
Design Zero-Fuel Weight: 77,200 lb
Max Landing Weight: 103,880 lb
PERFORMANCE (P-3B/C, at max T-O weight):
Max Level Speed at 15,000ft: 411 knots
Econ Cruising Speed at 25,000ft: 328 knots
Patrol Speed at 1,500 ft: 206 knots
Stalling Speed: 133 knots(flaps up); 112 knots(flaps down)
Max Rate of Climb at 1,500 ft: 1,950 ft/min
Time to 25,000ft: 30 min
Service Ceiling: 28,300 ft
Service Ceiling, one engine out: 19,000 ft
T-O run: 4,240 ft
T-O to 50 ft: 5,490
Landing from 50 ft: 2,770 ft
Mission Radius (3 h on station at 1,500 ft): 1,346 nm
Max Mission Radius (no time on station): 2,070 nm
Ferry Range: 4,830 nm
Max Endurance at 15,000 ft (two engines): 17 hr 12 min
Max Endurance at 15,000 ft (four engines): 12 hr 20 min