Lockheed P-3 Orion

The history of the P-3 begins back in the late 1950s, when Lockheed received an order from the US Navy to modify the Lockheed L-188 Electra aircraft in an experimental model called P3V-1 , which was later named Orion. The experimental sample first flew on November 25, 1959 , and the first production instance of the P3V-1 on April 15, 1961 . Previously, the aircraft received the designation P-3 . Compared to the L-188 , the P-3 had a fuselage shorter by 2.24 meters. The fuselage was also modified to add a weapon compartment and install new aircraft equipment ^[2] . The weapons compartment was designed to house torpedoes, depth charges, mines, or nuclear weapons. The aircraft also had 10 pylons under the wings, designed to accommodate various weapons ^[3] .

In contrast to the ancestor, L-188 , the Orion's fuselage was divided horizontally by the deck, passenger windows were canceled. In the upper sealed part, a cabin and control posts were placed, as well as airborne equipment. In the lower non-pressurized part there is a compartment for weapons and radio-acoustic buoys, as well as other equipment and aircraft systems.

Initially, the aircraft was a search and sighting system (combat information management system) A-NEW under the control of the BC / AN / AYK-10 . In the future, the aircraft were gradually upgraded, the composition of the equipment changed several times, including the central BCVM was replaced by a more modern ASQ-144 .

The fuel is housed in four integrated fuel tanks in the wing and fuselage tank. On the wing there are four Allison T56-A14 turboprop engines with a take - off power of 4x4910 liters. with.

The three-rack chassis, with two wheels on each rack, retracts upstream. In the engine nacelles for the main struts there are niches closed by twin sashes.

The following structures were involved in the development and production of P-3 aircraft: ^[4]

General Contractor

• Aircraft in general - Lockheed Aircraft Corp. , Lockheed-California Division, Burbank , California .

• P-3A - main anti-submarine variant
• P-3B - modification with updated equipment and modified engines T-56-F-14. 145 cars built
• P-3C - anti-submarine aircraft with a completely updated search and sighting system based on the Univac ASQ-114 BCM. There are three main upgrade options (Update 1 - Update 3). Built 143 cars. Licensed also in Japan.
• P-3F - patrol and anti-submarine aircraft with a simplified composition of equipment. Built 8 aircraft, delivered to Iran in 1975.
• RP-3D - a plane to study the magnetic field of the earth
• WP-3D - aircraft for studying the atmosphere and weather
• CP-140 Aurora - aircraft for long-range marine reconnaissance and to combat submarines. Built 18 aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force based on the P-3C Orion , but with more advanced electronics from the Lockheed S-3 Viking .
• CP-140A Arcturus - Three aircraft built for the Royal Canadian Air Force , without anti-submarine equipment, designed to train CP-140 Aurora crews and coast patrols.

The specifications given correspond to the P-3C modification. Data Source: DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY - NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER ^[5]

Specifications

• Crew : 11 people
• Length : 35.61 m
• Wing span : 30.38 m
• Height : 10.27 m
• Wing Area: 120.8 m²
• Chassis base: 9.068 m
• Track track: 9.5 m
• Empty weight: 30 350 kg
• Curb weight: 31 790 kg
• Maximum mass without fuel: 35,020 kg (without external suspensions)
• Normal take-off weight: 63,390 kg
• Maximum take-off weight : 64,410 kg
• The mass of fuel in internal tanks: 28 390 kg
• Fuel tank capacity: 34,840 l
• Powerplant : 4 × theater Allison T56-A-14
• Engine power: 4 × 4910 l. with. (4 × 3611 kW )
• Propeller : 4-blade Hamilton Standart
• Screw Diameter: 4.115 m

Flight characteristics

• Maximum speed: 746 km / h at 6096 m
• Cruising speed : 648 km / h (without suspensions)
• Stall speed: 228 km / h (with normal take-off weight with engines off)
• Combat radius: 2371 km (with 4 torpedoes and 4 AGM-84 missiles)
• Ferry range: 8375 km (fully refueled)
• Practical ceiling : 7315 m
• Rate of climb : 13.36 m / s
• Wing load: 525 kg / m² (at normal take-off weight)
• Thrust -weight ratio: 228 W / kg (at normal take-off weight)
• Takeoff run: 1420 m (at normal takeoff weight)
• Run length: 430-503 m (depending on landing weight)

Armament

• Suspension points:
  • in the bomb bay: up to 8
  • under the wing: 10
• Guided missiles: air-to-surface missiles : 4 × AGM-84 (+ 2 × AGM-84 without launch capability)
• Unguided missiles :
  • 2 × 4 × 127 mm Zuni missiles in LAU 10 blocks
  • 2 × 7 × 70 mm Hydra missiles in LAU 32A / A blocks
  • 2 × 19 × 70 mm Hydra missiles in LAU 3A / A or LAU 69 / A blocks
• Bombs : Falling:
  • nuclear deep : 3 × B57 in the bomb bay
  • high-explosive: 8 × 227 kg Mk.82 or 454 kg Mk.83 in the bomb bay
• Torpedoes : 8 × Mk.44 or Mk.46 in the bomb bay (+ 10 torpedoes under the wing without the possibility of launch)
• Mines :
  • 10 + 6 × 147 kg Mk. 53
  • 8 + 3 × 227 kg Mk. 36 or 454 kg Mk. 52
  • 6 + 1 × 907 kg Mk.25 or Mk.55 or Mk.56

Related developments

• Lockheed L-188 Electra

Analogs

• IL-38
• Avro shackleton
• Boeing P-8 Poseidon
• Breguet atlantic
• Hawker-siddeley nimrod
• Kawasaki p-1
• Lockheed P-2 Neptune
• Martin P5M Marlin

Lists

• List of aircraft

• Nikolsky M. Ocean Sentinels. "Orion" thunderstorm submarine (Russian) // Wings of the Motherland . - M. , 2000. - No. 8 . - S. 10-15 . - ISSN 0130-2701 .