Lockheed P-3C Orion

Developed from the Lockheed L-118 Electra to replace the Lockheed P-2 Neptune and Martin P-5 Marlin for the US Navy, the P-3 Orion is a four-engined long endurance maritime patrol and anti-submarine platform. First entering service during 1962, the Orion remains in service around the globe however many operators have begun to replace their fleets with the Boeing P-8 Poseidon. Easily recognisable by its long tail sting which houses the Magnetic Anomaly Detected (MAD) for finding submerged Submarines, the P-3 Orion has also been developed into a variety of sub-variants including the EP-3 Airies electronic surveillance aircraft and the WP-3D Hurricane hunter. In addition to Torpedoes and the AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile, the Orion can also carry a variety of air-to-surface weapons including bombs and the AGM-65 Maverick missile.

The Portuguese Air Force first acquired the Orion in the 1980s when a fleet of six surplus Royal Australian Air Force P-3B Orions were purchased and converted to P-3P standard. In anticipation of the retirement of the P-3P in 2011, an agreement was reached with the Royal Netherlands Navy to acquire five P-3C Orions in 2006 which would be modernised to the latest standards prior to delivery. In addition, Portugal has acquired six retired P-3Cs from the German Navy which act as sources of parts for upgrades and instructional airframes. Their fleet has recently been upgraded with new computer systems. All of Portugal’s Orions are based at Beja and flown by 601 Squadron, known as the Lobos.

For the first time at a UK airshow, we are pleased to announce that the Portuguese Air Force will be providing one of their P-3C CUP+ Orions for static display at this year’s Air Tattoo as part of our Eyes in the Skies theme.

Photo credit: Peter Reoch