Lockheed P-3 Orion

The Lockheed P‑3 Orion is a four‑engine turboprop maritime patrol aircraft that entered service with the United States Navy in 1962. Developed from the Lockheed L‑188 Electra airliner, the P‑3 combined a spacious fuselage with robust Allison T56‑A-10 engines, a long endurance of over 12 hours, and a maximum range beyond 2,500 nautical miles, making it ideal for anti‑submarine warfare, electronic surveillance, and search‑and‑rescue missions. Its signature dorsal radome houses a suite of sensors, including a magnetic anomaly detector, sonobuoy processing system, and advanced radar, while the internal weapons bay can carry torpedoes, depth charges, and mines. Over the decades the platform has been continuously upgraded, receiving modern avionics, computer‑driven mission consoles, and infrared cameras, which have extended its usefulness well into the 21st century. More than 800 Orions have been produced, serving not only the U.S. Navy but also the air forces of more than a dozen allied nations. The aircraft’s reliability, versatility, and extensive operational history have cemented the P‑3 Orion as a cornerstone of maritime patrol aviation, influencing the design of successors such as the Boeing P‑8 Poseidon.

Lockheed Corporation

Classification

Dimensions

Performance

Production & History

Design & Classification