The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engined, turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s.

The Lockheed AP-3C Orion is a variant of the P-3 Orion formerly used by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) for tasks such as naval fleet support, maritime surveillance, search and survivor supply and anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare.

Nov 30, 2023 · Between November 1969 and April 1970, RAAF Orions were tasked to closely monitor a Soviet Zulu-class diesel submarine and its two civilian escorts conducting what is believed to have been hydrographic surveys off Australia’s …

The Lockheed AP-3C Orion is a variant of the P-3 Orion used by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) for tasks such as naval fleet support, maritime surveillance, search and survivor supply and anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare. They are fitted with a variety of sensors.

A9-656 to A9-665 were also known in RAAF service as the P-3W to differentitate between aircraft built in 1978/9 (A9-751 to A9-760) and those built in 1984/5 (A9-656 to A9-665). Lockheed referred to these aircraft as "original delivery" and "follow-on" respectively.

Dec 5, 2023 · End of the line for RAAF Orion. After a service that lasted for 55 years the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) bid farewell to the venerable Lockheed P-3 Orion on 5 December 2023. A farewell flight performed by the last two remaining active AP-3Cs, A9-657 and A9-660, both operated by 10 Squadron Strike First, marked the end of an era.

Dec 7, 2018 · The RAAF formally celebrated 50 years of Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion maritime surveillance operations with a multi-ship low-level formation flight around Adelaide and environs on November 30.

May 21, 2024 · During Operation Iraqi Freedom P-3s of VP-47 flew over 3,000 flight combat hours. An Orion spotted and tracked an Iraqi patrol boat. An AC-130 sank the patrol boat. RAAF P-3s provided situational awareness on Iraqi operations. On June 24, 2003 a U.S. Navy P-3 assisted in the rescue of 27 sailors from the Green Glory.

Lockheed P-3C Orion A9-605 at RAAF Richmond on 25 March 1979 (David C Eyre) United States of America. Long-range maritime reconnaissance bomber. Four 3,663 kw (4,910 eshp) Allison T56-A-14W turboprops. Weapons bay can house two Mk 101 depth-bombs, and four Mk 43, 44 or 46 torpedoes; or eight Mk 54 bombs.

The P-3 AEW designation indicates that the aircraft was modified with Airborne Early Warning (AEW) capabilities. Lockheed developed the AEW version of Orion in the first half of the eighties. The initial conversion was made to a P-3B formerly assigned to …