P-3C ‘Orion’ to participate in CARAT 2014

Lockheed P-3C “Orion” / Wikipedia Photo

MANILA — A Lockheed P-3C “Orion” anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft will be participating in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT 2014) between the Philippine and US Navies.

This was revealed by Philippine Fleet spokesperson Lt. (JG) Rommel Rodriquez Thursday.

The four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft will be on static display at the Subic Bay International Airport this coming June 29.

CARAT 2014 will run from June 26 to July 1, Rodriquez added.

The “Orion” was introduced in the 1960s. Lockheed based it on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner.

It is easily recognizable from the Electra by its distinctive tail stinger or “MAD Boom”, used for the magnetic detection of submarines.

Over the years, the aircraft has seen numerous design advancements, most notably to its electronics packages.

The “Orion” is still in use by numerous navies and air forces around the world, primarily for maritime patrol, reconnaissance, anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare.

A total of 734 P-3s have been built, and in 2012, it joined the handful of military aircraft including the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress and Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker that have served 50 years of continuous use by the United States military.

The US Navy’s remaining P-3C aircraft will eventually be replaced by the P-8A Poseidon.

The “Orion” can carry a crew of 11 and it has a length of 116 ft 10 inches (35.6 meters).

It has a wingspan of 99 ft 8 inches (30.4 meters) and a height of 38 ft 8 inches (11.8 meters).

The P-3C has a wing area of 1300 ft² (120.8 m²)

Its empty weight is at 77,200 lb (35,000 kg); loaded weight at 135,000 lb (61,400 kg); useful load is 57,800 lb (26,400 kg).

Maximum takeoff weight is at 142,000 lb (64,400 kg).

Its powerplant consist of four Allison T56-A-14 turboprop, with 4,600 shp (3,700 kW) each.

Its propellers are a four-bladed Hamilton Standard propeller, one per engine.

The P-3C’s maximum speed is pegged 411 knots (750 km/h) while cruise speed is 328 knots (610 km/h) and range of 2,380 nautical miles radius (4,400 km).