Description:
The
P-3C Orion
is a four-engine turboprop
anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft.
Features
Originally
designed as a land-based, long-range, anti-submarine warfare (ASW)
patrol aircraft, the P-3C's mission has evolved in the late 1990s and
early 21st century to include surveillance of the battlespace, either
at sea or over land. Its long range and long loiter time have proved
invaluable assets during Operation Iraqi Freedom as it can view the
battlespace and instantaneously provide that information to ground
troops, especially U.S. Marines.
The P-3C has advanced submarine detection sensors such as
directional frequency and ranging (DIFAR) sonobuoys and magnetic
anomaly detection (MAD) equipment. The avionics system is integrated by
a general purpose digital computer that supports all of the tactical
displays, monitors and automatically launches ordnance and provides
flight information to the pilots. In addition, the system coordinates
navigation information and accepts sensor data inputs for tactical
display and storage. The P-3C can carry a mixed payload of weapons
internally and on wing pylons.
Background
The
P-3 Orion has been the Navy’s frontline, land-based maritime
patrol
aircraft since the 1960s. The most capable Orion version is the P-3C,
first delivered to the Navy in 1969. The Navy implemented a number of
major improvements to the P-3C (Updates I, II, II.5 and III) during its
production run. P-3C aircraft communication, navigation, acoustic,
non-acoustic and ordnance/weapon systems are still being modernized
within several improvement programs to satisfy Navy and joint
requirements through the early part of the 21st century.
Current
modernization programs include installation of a modernized
communications suite, Protected Instrument Landing System, IFF Mode S
and Required Navigation Performance Area Navigation, GPS, common
avionics improvements and modernized cockpit instrumentation. The
USQ-78(V) Upgrade Program is improving the USQ-78(V) Single Advanced
Signal Processor system Display Control Unit, a programmable system
control processor that provides post processing of acoustic data and is
the main component of the Update III acoustic configuration. Up to 100
P-3C aircraft are being upgraded to USQ-78B configuration with System
Controller (SC) and Acoustic Sub Unit (ASU) Tech Refreshes. In
addition, all analog acoustic data recorders are being replaced with
digital data recorders.
The Critical Obsolescence Program (COP)
began in fiscal year 2004 to improve aircraft availability through
replacement of obsolete and/or top degrader systems. COP systems
include the ARC-230 HF as replacement for the ARC-161, the USQ-130 Data
Link as replacement for the ACQ-5, the ASW-60 Autopilot as replacement
for the ASW-31, the ASX-6 Multi-Mode Imaging System (MMIS) as
replacement for the AAS-36 IRDS and the Telephonics Secure Digital
Intercommunications System (SDI) as replacement for the AIC-22 ICS. The
Navy has shifted the P-3C’s operational emphasis to the
littoral
regions and is improving the antisurface warfare (ASUW) capabilities of
the P-3C. The antisurface warfare improvement program (AIP)
incorporates enhancements in ASUW, over-the-horizon targeting (OTH-T)
and command, control, communications and intelligence (C4I), and
improves survivability. The AIP program presently includes 72 kits on
contract; 69 aircraft have been delivered to the fleet as of September
2006. Upgrades to the armament system include the addition of the
AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER missile and Mk54 torpedo capabilities.
P-3
mission systems sustainment, necessary to ensure the P-3 remains a
viable warfighter until P-8A Poseidon achieves full operational
capability (FOC), include acoustic processing upgrades through air
acoustic rapid COTS insertion (ARCI) and tech refreshes, mission
systems obsolescence management, and the upgrade of P-3 tactical
communications and networking through over-the-horizon C4I
international marine/maritime satellite (INMARSAT).
The ongoing
P-3C airframe sustainment program inspects and repairs center and outer
wings while reducing Fleet inventory to the mandated 130 aircraft by
2010. The P-3C fleet has experienced significant fatigue degradation
over its operational life as quantified through the Service Life
Assessment Program (SLAP). The Navy has instituted special structural
inspections programs and replacement kits to refurbish aircraft
structures to sustain airframe life. The 12 active patrol squadrons
(down from 24 in 1991) operate P-3C AIP and Update III configured
aircraft. Other P-3 variants still in service include one VP-3A
executive transport, four NP-3C and eight NP-3D research and
development, testing and evaluation and oceanographic survey aircraft.
Numerous countries also fly the P-3 Orion, making it one of the more
prevalent Navy aircraft available for foreign military sales and
support. |
WEFT Description
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- WINGS
- ENGINE
- FUSELAGE
- TAIL
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