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 …

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.

Considering the RAAF already operated Orions the New P-3C was the preferred option. An order for eight aircraft was placed in 1975 (later increased to ten); they would be of the update II version and would join 11 Sqn at Edinburgh.

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.

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.

Jul 27, 2016 · The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) operated the Lockheed-Martin (L-M) designed P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft for many years and in the 1990s, at the time of the formulation of the...

The RAAF had two P-3Cs dedicated to electronic warfare. These aircraft (A9-657 and A9-660) are known as the AP-3 (EW) and were expected to remain in service until 2023 when they would be replaced by the Northrop MQ-3C Triton.