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Lockheed AP-3C Orion

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. The 18 AP-3C Orions were upgraded from P-3Cs between 1997 and 2005, with the program taking three years longer than expected due to systems integration problems. All 18 AP-3C Orions are operated by No. 92 Wing which is based at RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia. Aircraft from the wing have seen service as part of Australian Defence Force operations in Australia, South East Asia and the Middle East.

AP-3C Orion
AP-3C Orion
Role Maritime patrol aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Lockheed Corporation
Sensor systems by L3 Communications / Tenix Defence
First flight 19 May 1999
Introduction 2002
Status Active
Primary user Royal Australian Air Force
Number built 18
Developed from Lockheed P-3 Orion

Development

The AP-3C Orion project began in the early 1990s to upgrade the radar and mission systems on 18 of Australia's 19 P-3C-II Orions. L3 Communications completed the prototype AP-3C at its facility at Greenville, Texas. The other 17 aircraft were upgraded at Avalon Airport in Australia under a sub-contract to Australian companies. Tenix Defence took over the project in mid-2003 and BAE Systems was involved with many of the aircraft's sub-systems and developing a simulation facility.[1] Work began on the first AP-3C in January 1997 and the original project schedule called for this aircraft to be provided to the RAAF for operational acceptance trials in March 1998 and all upgrades to be completed by the end of 2001.[2] The remaining 19th Orion was not included in the upgrade program, and the Australian military stated in 2005 that it is "used for development purposes".[3]

When the Australian Orion upgrade project was being developed in 1996 there was not an 'off the shelf' package of upgrades that met the requirements specified by the RAAF. As a result, it was decided to tailor the upgrade to Australian specifications, which included integrating different systems. The systems integration task proved to be much more difficult than was expected, and L3 Communications and its suppliers were required to write over two million lines of software code.[4]

As a result of the systems integration problems delivery of upgraded Orions was delayed by three years. The first two aircraft were handed over to the RAAF in December 2001[5] and the final AP-3C was delivered in early 2005.[1] This delay caused a major reduction in the RAAF's maritime surveillance capability, and in February 2001 only nine of the RAAF's 17 Orions were operational.[2]

Capabilities

 
An AP-3C at Canberra Airport in 2005
 
Two crewmen loading sonobuoys on board an AP-3C

The AP-3C upgrade improved the Orions' radar, intelligence-gathering and computing systems. The upgrade included fitting each aircraft with a new Elta EL/M-2022(V)3 radar, a nose-mounted Star Safire III electro-optical and infrared system, "highly capable" signals and electronic intelligence (SIGINT/ELINT) equipment, the UYS 503 acoustic system, a new automatic information system processor, a new navigation system based on two Honeywell H764G Embedded GPS/INUs, a new communications system and other improvements. The Orions' weight was also reduced by more than 3,000 kilograms (6,600 lb) as part of the upgrade.[3][6]

The AP-3Cs' new radar and electronic surveillance system greatly increased the capabilities of the RAAF's Orion fleet. These new systems allow the Orions to detect and identify more targets and at longer range. In 2002 the then-Chief of Air Force Air Vice Marshal Angus Houston claimed that the AP-3Cs were the best maritime patrol aircraft in the world and The Australian reported that they were superior to the United States Navy's Orions, though an upgrade was planned for the USN's Orion fleet.[4]

There has been speculation that one or more of the AP-3Cs was fitted with additional SIGINT/ELINT capabilities and operate as specialised intelligence-gathering aircraft. An article in the magazine Australian Aviation in December 2007 stated that this is probably not correct, and it is more likely that several SIGINT/ELINT 'kits' were purchased and can be swapped between all 18 airframes. The magazine also quoted an unnamed 'industry source' as stating that all the AP-3Cs have SIGINT/ELINT capabilities "equivalent or better" than those of the Royal Air Force's specialised Hawker Siddeley Nimrod surveillance aircraft.[3] Jane's World Air Forces states that the RAAF's 19th Orion was converted to an EP-3 signals reconnaissance aircraft in 1997, however, and was operational as late as 2009.[7]

The aircraft are equipped with AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, Mark 46 or MU90 Impact torpedoes, mines, and a range of sonar buoys and other stores.[8][9]

AP-3C Orions have a normal crew complement of 13, broken down as follows:[10]

  • two pilots (captain and co-pilot)
  • two flight engineers
  • tactical co-ordinator
  • navigator/communication officer
  • sensor employment manager
  • six airborne electronic analysts.

In addition to their traditional maritime surveillance role, AP-3Cs have been equipped for over-land surveillance roles. As of 2007, the RAAF's two-aircraft Orion detachment in the Middle East was spending 60 percent of its flying time conducting intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance over Iraq.[11]

On 14 May 2007 BAE Systems Australia was awarded an $76.1 million contract to provide an upgraded electronic support measures (ESM) system for the Orions. The contract involved replacing existing sub-systems and ground support systems from 2011.[12]

In 2008 the Australian Government awarded contracts for further enhancements to the AP-3C fleet. Under this project 18 Orions were to be equipped with new electro-optical/infrared sensors, tactical common datalinks and video recorders by 2011.[13]

Operational history

 
Two AP-3C Orions in July 2010

All AP-3Cs were assigned to No. 92 Wing RAAF, which forms part of the air force's Surveillance and Response Group. Each of the 18 aircraft is permanently allocated to either No. 10 Squadron or No. 11 Squadron rather than being placed in a wing-owned pool.[14] AP-3C aircraft are also used by the RAAF's Orion operational conversion unit, No. 292 Squadron, for training flights.

The AP-3Cs have seen extensive operational service. The first operational deployment of one of the upgraded aircraft was conducted in late 2002, when an AP-3C assigned to No. 10 Squadron flew border protection patrols from Darwin.[15] The Orions have subsequently formed an important part of Operation Resolute, the Australian Defence Force's contribution to patrolling Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone. As part of this operation Orions fly regular missions around Australia's western and northern approaches and report the results of their patrols to Maritime Border Command.[14] AP-3Cs also periodically conduct patrols over the Indian Ocean, Strait of Malacca and South China Sea from RMAF Butterworth in Malaysia as part of Operation Gateway.[14] A single AP-3C was also deployed to Pago Pago in American Samoa during November and December 2006 to support the Australian force deployed off Fiji in response to the 2006 Fijian coup d'état.[16]

Further afield, a detachment of two AP-3Cs was based in the Middle East from 2003 until late 2012 as part of Australia's commitment to the War on Terrorism (Operation Slipper) and the Iraq War (Operation Catalyst). These aircraft conducted maritime surveillance patrols over the Persian Gulf and North Arabian Sea; providing support to Coalition warships and boarding parties; and conducting extensive overland flights of Iraq to support the Coalition ground forces there. By December 2007 the AP-3C detachment had conducted 1,200 sorties totaling more than 11,000 hours of flying.[14] The aircraft also operated over Afghanistan conducting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, as well supporting counter-piracy operations in Somalia. This deployment ended in December 2012; by this time the aircraft had flown over 2,400 sorties; and more than 3,500 No. 92 Wing personnel had served in the Middle East.[17]

In February 2009 an AP-3C Orion conducted flights over the state of Victoria in which it used its sophisticated cameras to map the damage and destruction caused by the Black Saturday bushfires and to search for survivors.[18]

 
AP-3C flies over British survey ship HMS Echo during MH370 search

In March 2014, four AP-3Cs participated in the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

In December 2015, it was reported by the BBC that an AP-3C Orion aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force conducted freedom of navigation exercises over contested islands in the South China Sea.[19] The Department of Defence released a statement stating that the Orion had conducted routine maritime patrols between 25 November and 4 December as part of a regular surveillance operation. The aircraft was operating as a part of Operation Gateway, Australia's "enduring contribution to the preservation of regional security and stability in South East Asia".[20][21][22]

In June 2017 the Australian Government announced that two AP-3C Orions would operate over Mindanao in the Philippines to gather intelligence for Filipino forces engaged in the Marawi crisis.[23]

Replacement

The RAAF's Orions are being replaced by up to fifteen Boeing P-8 Poseidons and six to eight MQ-4C Triton[24] unmanned aerial vehicles between 2015 and 2018.[25][26] One of the Orions was retired in 2012 or 2013.[27] This aircraft, which was the only one to have not been upgraded to AP-3C status, was scrapped on 20 October 2014. At this time the RAAF planned to reduce the Orion fleet to 16 aircraft by the end of 2014 and retire the type in 2019.[28]

Operators

  Australia

Survivors

Specifications (AP-3C Orion)

 
An AP-3C Orion with its bomb bay doors open

Data from[citation needed]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 13
  • Length: 116 ft 10 in (35.61 m)
  • Wingspan: 101 ft 6 in (30.94 m)
  • Height: 34 ft 3 in (10.44 m)
  • Wing area: 1,300 sq ft (120 m2)
  • Airfoil: root: NACA 0014-1.10; tip: NACA 0012-1.10[33]
  • Empty weight: 61,509 lb (27,900 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 134,923 lb (61,200 kg)
  • Powerplant: 4 × Allison T56-A-14 turboshaft engines, 4,600 shp (3,400 kW) each
  • Propellers: 4-bladed constant-speed fully-feathering propellers

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 405 kn (466 mph, 750 km/h)
  • Combat range: 2,346 nmi (2,700 mi, 4,345 km)
  • Ferry range: 4,866 nmi (5,600 mi, 9,012 km)
  • Service ceiling: 28,300 ft (8,600 m)
  • Rate of climb: 3,140 ft/min (16.0 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 107 lb/sq ft (520 kg/m2)
  • Power/mass: 0.03 hp/lb (0.049 kW/kg)

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Upgraded Orion fleet now in service". Australian Associated Press. 15 March 2005.
  2. ^ a b "Updated Orion unveiled after three years delay". Flight International. 20 February 2001.
  3. ^ a b c McCaughlin (2007). "Quiet Achiever": 41. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ a b "Refit gives Orions a new lease of life". The Australian. 15 November 2002.
  5. ^ "Orion systems update back on track". The Australian. 30 November 2001.
  6. ^ "Updated Orion Aircraft Delivered To The RAAF". Forecast International. 8 December 2001.
  7. ^ Peacock, Lindsay; Keymer, Eleanor (2009). "Jane's World Air Forces. Issues Twenty-Nine". Jane's World Air Forces. Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group: 31. ISSN 1748-2526.
  8. ^ Wilson, Stewart (1994). Military Aircraft of Australia. Weston Creek, ACT: Aerospace Publications. pp. 141–142. ISBN 1875671080.
  9. ^ . Australian National Audit Office. 28 February 2013. Archived from the original on 20 August 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  10. ^ . Royal Australian Air Force. Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  11. ^ Skehan, Craig (8 June 2007). "Spy plane mission revealed". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  12. ^ "In Brief". Journal of Electronic Defense. 60 (6). 2007. ISSN 0192-429X.
  13. ^ Kelly, Emma (26 August 2008). "Canberra agrees to upgrade AP-3C Orion fleet". Flight International.
  14. ^ a b c d McCaughlin (2007). "Quiet Achiever": 44. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  15. ^ Nott, Deanna (21 November 2002). . Air Force News. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  16. ^ "Australian task group returns from Fiji". The Age. 17 December 2006. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
  17. ^ "Mission complete on wings of a dream craft". Adelaide Now. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  18. ^ Dodd, Mark (10 February 2009). "RAAF 'spy' plane searches for survivors and maps damage". The Australian. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
  19. ^ "Australia conducting 'freedom of navigation' flights in South China Sea". BBC News. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  20. ^ "Operation Gateway". South China Sea Indian Ocean. Department of Defence. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  21. ^ "Defence claims RAAF South China Sea flight is "routine"". Australian Financial Review. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  22. ^ Greene, Andrew; Birtles, Bill (15 December 2015). "Audio captures RAAF surveillance flight over South China Sea". ABC News. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  23. ^ Wroe, David (22 June 2017). "RAAF spy planes to join fight against Islamic State in the Philippines". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  24. ^ "PM gives go-ahead to buy Triton drones". news.com.au. 15 March 2014.
  25. ^ Ferguson, Gregor (29 November 2008). "Crossroads for maritime surveillance deal". The Australian.
  26. ^ "PM gives go-ahead to buy Triton drones". NewsComAu.
  27. ^ "Budget reveals RAAF Orion retirement". Australian Aviation. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  28. ^ "RAAF Orion drawdown begins". Australian Aviation. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  29. ^ Makowski, Dion (9 January 2017). "RAAF 11 Sqn Arrival of the P-8 Poseidon and Retirement of the AP-3C Orion". Down Under Aviation News. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  30. ^ "ADF Serials - Orion". www.adf-serials.com.au. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  31. ^ "Lockheed AP-3C Orion Signed Over to HARS - Historical Aircraft Restoration Society". hars.org.au. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  32. ^ "Lockheed AP-3C Orion - Historical Aircraft Restoration Society". hars.org.au. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  33. ^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

References

  • BAE Systems
  • "AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft". Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  • Australian National Audit Office (2005). Upgrade of the Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft Fleet (PDF). Canberra: ANAO. ISBN 0-642-80867-8.
  • McCaughlin, Andrew (2007). "Quiet Achiever". Australian Aviation (December 2007).
  • Pittaway, Nigel (January 2017). "Twilight of the Great Hunter". Air International. pp. 92–98. ISSN 0306-5634.

External links

  • Farquhar, Rod. "ADF Aircraft Serial Numbers RAAF A9 Lockheed AP-3C, P-3B/C, TAP-3B Orion". ADF Serials.

lockheed, orion, variant, orion, used, royal, australian, force, raaf, tasks, such, naval, fleet, support, maritime, surveillance, search, survivor, supply, anti, surface, anti, submarine, warfare, orions, were, upgraded, from, between, 1997, 2005, with, progr. 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 The 18 AP 3C Orions were upgraded from P 3Cs between 1997 and 2005 with the program taking three years longer than expected due to systems integration problems All 18 AP 3C Orions are operated by No 92 Wing which is based at RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia Aircraft from the wing have seen service as part of Australian Defence Force operations in Australia South East Asia and the Middle East AP 3C OrionAP 3C OrionRole Maritime patrol aircraftNational origin United StatesManufacturer Lockheed Corporation Sensor systems by L3 Communications Tenix DefenceFirst flight 19 May 1999Introduction 2002Status ActivePrimary user Royal Australian Air ForceNumber built 18Developed from Lockheed P 3 Orion Contents 1 Development 2 Capabilities 3 Operational history 4 Replacement 5 Operators 6 Survivors 7 Specifications AP 3C Orion 8 Notes 9 References 10 External linksDevelopment EditThe AP 3C Orion project began in the early 1990s to upgrade the radar and mission systems on 18 of Australia s 19 P 3C II Orions L3 Communications completed the prototype AP 3C at its facility at Greenville Texas The other 17 aircraft were upgraded at Avalon Airport in Australia under a sub contract to Australian companies Tenix Defence took over the project in mid 2003 and BAE Systems was involved with many of the aircraft s sub systems and developing a simulation facility 1 Work began on the first AP 3C in January 1997 and the original project schedule called for this aircraft to be provided to the RAAF for operational acceptance trials in March 1998 and all upgrades to be completed by the end of 2001 2 The remaining 19th Orion was not included in the upgrade program and the Australian military stated in 2005 that it is used for development purposes 3 When the Australian Orion upgrade project was being developed in 1996 there was not an off the shelf package of upgrades that met the requirements specified by the RAAF As a result it was decided to tailor the upgrade to Australian specifications which included integrating different systems The systems integration task proved to be much more difficult than was expected and L3 Communications and its suppliers were required to write over two million lines of software code 4 As a result of the systems integration problems delivery of upgraded Orions was delayed by three years The first two aircraft were handed over to the RAAF in December 2001 5 and the final AP 3C was delivered in early 2005 1 This delay caused a major reduction in the RAAF s maritime surveillance capability and in February 2001 only nine of the RAAF s 17 Orions were operational 2 Capabilities Edit An AP 3C at Canberra Airport in 2005 Two crewmen loading sonobuoys on board an AP 3C The AP 3C upgrade improved the Orions radar intelligence gathering and computing systems The upgrade included fitting each aircraft with a new Elta EL M 2022 V 3 radar a nose mounted Star Safire III electro optical and infrared system highly capable signals and electronic intelligence SIGINT ELINT equipment the UYS 503 acoustic system a new automatic information system processor a new navigation system based on two Honeywell H764G Embedded GPS INUs a new communications system and other improvements The Orions weight was also reduced by more than 3 000 kilograms 6 600 lb as part of the upgrade 3 6 The AP 3Cs new radar and electronic surveillance system greatly increased the capabilities of the RAAF s Orion fleet These new systems allow the Orions to detect and identify more targets and at longer range In 2002 the then Chief of Air Force Air Vice Marshal Angus Houston claimed that the AP 3Cs were the best maritime patrol aircraft in the world and The Australian reported that they were superior to the United States Navy s Orions though an upgrade was planned for the USN s Orion fleet 4 There has been speculation that one or more of the AP 3Cs was fitted with additional SIGINT ELINT capabilities and operate as specialised intelligence gathering aircraft An article in the magazine Australian Aviation in December 2007 stated that this is probably not correct and it is more likely that several SIGINT ELINT kits were purchased and can be swapped between all 18 airframes The magazine also quoted an unnamed industry source as stating that all the AP 3Cs have SIGINT ELINT capabilities equivalent or better than those of the Royal Air Force s specialised Hawker Siddeley Nimrod surveillance aircraft 3 Jane s World Air Forces states that the RAAF s 19th Orion was converted to an EP 3 signals reconnaissance aircraft in 1997 however and was operational as late as 2009 7 The aircraft are equipped with AGM 84 Harpoon anti ship missiles Mark 46 or MU90 Impact torpedoes mines and a range of sonar buoys and other stores 8 9 AP 3C Orions have a normal crew complement of 13 broken down as follows 10 two pilots captain and co pilot two flight engineers tactical co ordinator navigator communication officer sensor employment manager six airborne electronic analysts In addition to their traditional maritime surveillance role AP 3Cs have been equipped for over land surveillance roles As of 2007 the RAAF s two aircraft Orion detachment in the Middle East was spending 60 percent of its flying time conducting intelligence gathering surveillance and reconnaissance over Iraq 11 On 14 May 2007 BAE Systems Australia was awarded an 76 1 million contract to provide an upgraded electronic support measures ESM system for the Orions The contract involved replacing existing sub systems and ground support systems from 2011 12 In 2008 the Australian Government awarded contracts for further enhancements to the AP 3C fleet Under this project 18 Orions were to be equipped with new electro optical infrared sensors tactical common datalinks and video recorders by 2011 13 Operational history Edit Two AP 3C Orions in July 2010 All AP 3Cs were assigned to No 92 Wing RAAF which forms part of the air force s Surveillance and Response Group Each of the 18 aircraft is permanently allocated to either No 10 Squadron or No 11 Squadron rather than being placed in a wing owned pool 14 AP 3C aircraft are also used by the RAAF s Orion operational conversion unit No 292 Squadron for training flights The AP 3Cs have seen extensive operational service The first operational deployment of one of the upgraded aircraft was conducted in late 2002 when an AP 3C assigned to No 10 Squadron flew border protection patrols from Darwin 15 The Orions have subsequently formed an important part of Operation Resolute the Australian Defence Force s contribution to patrolling Australia s Exclusive Economic Zone As part of this operation Orions fly regular missions around Australia s western and northern approaches and report the results of their patrols to Maritime Border Command 14 AP 3Cs also periodically conduct patrols over the Indian Ocean Strait of Malacca and South China Sea from RMAF Butterworth in Malaysia as part of Operation Gateway 14 A single AP 3C was also deployed to Pago Pago in American Samoa during November and December 2006 to support the Australian force deployed off Fiji in response to the 2006 Fijian coup d etat 16 Further afield a detachment of two AP 3Cs was based in the Middle East from 2003 until late 2012 as part of Australia s commitment to the War on Terrorism Operation Slipper and the Iraq War Operation Catalyst These aircraft conducted maritime surveillance patrols over the Persian Gulf and North Arabian Sea providing support to Coalition warships and boarding parties and conducting extensive overland flights of Iraq to support the Coalition ground forces there By December 2007 the AP 3C detachment had conducted 1 200 sorties totaling more than 11 000 hours of flying 14 The aircraft also operated over Afghanistan conducting intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance missions as well supporting counter piracy operations in Somalia This deployment ended in December 2012 by this time the aircraft had flown over 2 400 sorties and more than 3 500 No 92 Wing personnel had served in the Middle East 17 In February 2009 an AP 3C Orion conducted flights over the state of Victoria in which it used its sophisticated cameras to map the damage and destruction caused by the Black Saturday bushfires and to search for survivors 18 AP 3C flies over British survey ship HMS Echo during MH370 search In March 2014 four AP 3Cs participated in the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 In December 2015 it was reported by the BBC that an AP 3C Orion aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force conducted freedom of navigation exercises over contested islands in the South China Sea 19 The Department of Defence released a statement stating that the Orion had conducted routine maritime patrols between 25 November and 4 December as part of a regular surveillance operation The aircraft was operating as a part of Operation Gateway Australia s enduring contribution to the preservation of regional security and stability in South East Asia 20 21 22 In June 2017 the Australian Government announced that two AP 3C Orions would operate over Mindanao in the Philippines to gather intelligence for Filipino forces engaged in the Marawi crisis 23 Replacement EditThis section needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information December 2021 The RAAF s Orions are being replaced by up to fifteen Boeing P 8 Poseidons and six to eight MQ 4C Triton 24 unmanned aerial vehicles between 2015 and 2018 25 26 One of the Orions was retired in 2012 or 2013 27 This aircraft which was the only one to have not been upgraded to AP 3C status was scrapped on 20 October 2014 At this time the RAAF planned to reduce the Orion fleet to 16 aircraft by the end of 2014 and retire the type in 2019 28 Operators Edit AustraliaRoyal Australian Air Force No 10 Squadron No 11 Squadron until 25 November 2016 when they formally transitioned to the P8A Poseidon 29 No 292 SquadronSurvivors Edit160753 AP3C Historical Aircraft Restoration Society HARS Shellharbour Airport New South Wales Australia Ex Royal Australian Air Force A9 753 10 Squadron and 292 Squadron as a static training aid 30 Officially handed over to HARS by the RAAF on 3 November 2017 31 It will be maintained as a flying warbird 32 Specifications AP 3C Orion Edit An AP 3C Orion with its bomb bay doors open Data from citation needed General characteristicsCrew 13 Length 116 ft 10 in 35 61 m Wingspan 101 ft 6 in 30 94 m Height 34 ft 3 in 10 44 m Wing area 1 300 sq ft 120 m2 Airfoil root NACA 0014 1 10 tip NACA 0012 1 10 33 Empty weight 61 509 lb 27 900 kg Max takeoff weight 134 923 lb 61 200 kg Powerplant 4 Allison T56 A 14 turboshaft engines 4 600 shp 3 400 kW each Propellers 4 bladed constant speed fully feathering propellersPerformance Maximum speed 405 kn 466 mph 750 km h Combat range 2 346 nmi 2 700 mi 4 345 km Ferry range 4 866 nmi 5 600 mi 9 012 km Service ceiling 28 300 ft 8 600 m Rate of climb 3 140 ft min 16 0 m s Wing loading 107 lb sq ft 520 kg m2 Power mass 0 03 hp lb 0 049 kW kg Notes Edit a b Upgraded Orion fleet now in service Australian Associated Press 15 March 2005 a b Updated Orion unveiled after three years delay Flight International 20 February 2001 a b c McCaughlin 2007 Quiet Achiever 41 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help a b Refit gives Orions a new lease of life The Australian 15 November 2002 Orion systems update back on track The Australian 30 November 2001 Updated Orion Aircraft Delivered To The RAAF Forecast International 8 December 2001 Peacock Lindsay Keymer Eleanor 2009 Jane s World Air Forces Issues Twenty Nine Jane s World Air Forces Coulsdon Jane s Information Group 31 ISSN 1748 2526 Wilson Stewart 1994 Military Aircraft of Australia Weston Creek ACT Aerospace Publications pp 141 142 ISBN 1875671080 Remediation of the Lightweight Torpedo Replacement Project Australian National Audit Office 28 February 2013 Archived from the original on 20 August 2013 Retrieved 27 June 2015 AP 3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft Royal Australian Air Force Archived from the original on 19 December 2008 Retrieved 28 November 2008 Skehan Craig 8 June 2007 Spy plane mission revealed The Sydney Morning Herald In Brief Journal of Electronic Defense 60 6 2007 ISSN 0192 429X Kelly Emma 26 August 2008 Canberra agrees to upgrade AP 3C Orion fleet Flight International a b c d McCaughlin 2007 Quiet Achiever 44 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Nott Deanna 21 November 2002 AP 3C patrols nation s north Air Force News Archived from the original on 24 September 2015 Retrieved 1 March 2015 Australian task group returns from Fiji The Age 17 December 2006 Retrieved 30 November 2008 Mission complete on wings of a dream craft Adelaide Now Retrieved 10 March 2013 Dodd Mark 10 February 2009 RAAF spy plane searches for survivors and maps damage The Australian Retrieved 10 February 2009 Australia conducting freedom of navigation flights in South China Sea BBC News 15 December 2015 Retrieved 15 December 2015 Operation Gateway South China Sea Indian Ocean Department of Defence Retrieved 15 December 2015 Defence claims RAAF South China Sea flight is routine Australian Financial Review 15 December 2015 Retrieved 15 December 2015 Greene Andrew Birtles Bill 15 December 2015 Audio captures RAAF surveillance flight over South China Sea ABC News Retrieved 15 December 2015 Wroe David 22 June 2017 RAAF spy planes to join fight against Islamic State in the Philippines The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 23 June 2017 PM gives go ahead to buy Triton drones news com au 15 March 2014 Ferguson Gregor 29 November 2008 Crossroads for maritime surveillance deal The Australian PM gives go ahead to buy Triton drones NewsComAu Budget reveals RAAF Orion retirement Australian Aviation 15 May 2013 Retrieved 19 May 2013 RAAF Orion drawdown begins Australian Aviation 27 October 2014 Retrieved 15 November 2014 Makowski Dion 9 January 2017 RAAF 11 Sqn Arrival of the P 8 Poseidon and Retirement of the AP 3C Orion Down Under Aviation News Retrieved 14 March 2017 ADF Serials Orion www adf serials com au Retrieved 18 November 2017 Lockheed AP 3C Orion Signed Over to HARS Historical Aircraft Restoration Society hars org au 4 November 2017 Retrieved 18 November 2017 Lockheed AP 3C Orion Historical Aircraft Restoration Society hars org au Retrieved 18 November 2017 Lednicer David The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage m selig ae illinois edu Retrieved 16 April 2019 References EditBAE Systems AP 3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft Royal Australian Air Force Retrieved 24 February 2014 Australian National Audit Office 2005 Upgrade of the Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft Fleet PDF Canberra ANAO ISBN 0 642 80867 8 McCaughlin Andrew 2007 Quiet Achiever Australian Aviation December 2007 Pittaway Nigel January 2017 Twilight of the Great Hunter Air International pp 92 98 ISSN 0306 5634 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to AP 3C Orion Farquhar Rod ADF Aircraft Serial Numbers RAAF A9 Lockheed AP 3C P 3B C TAP 3B Orion ADF Serials Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lockheed AP 3C Orion amp oldid 1123171175, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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