Aircraft ofthe ADF – A9 P-3 Orion

In November 1964 the RAAF selected the Orion to replace the Neptunes of 11 Squadron at RAAF Base Richmond. These ten aircraft, A9-291 to A9-300 (Lockheed constructor’s num- bers 5401 to 5410, US Navy serials 155291 to 155300), were P-3B-95-LO and-100-LO variants. The first was handed over to the Australians on January 10 1968, arriving at the RAAF’s Edinburgh base, 11 Squadron’s new home, on May 13. The last arriving on July 12. Unfortunately on April 11, A9-296 was written off when a defective undercarriage collapsed at the Moffett Field US Naval Air Station, in California. This was replaced by 154605 (c/n 5286), a ÚSN P-3B-106-LO, which became A9-605 in 1969.

The new base at Edinburgh allowed 11 Squadron’s Orions to rapidly deploy to any part of the Australian coastline on maritime patrol duties. The high performance Allison T56-A-14 engines gave both a fast transit speed and a long range. As well as anti submarine warfare (ASW) and search and rescue (SAR), coastal surveillance assumed an increasingly impor- tant role.

Meanwhile, the 10 Squadron SP-2H Neptunes at Townsville were now showing their age, soeight of the latest version of the Orion, the P-3C, were ordered in March 1975. The decision was then made to base all the Orions at RAAF Edinburgh, and in September 1976 the P-3C order was increased to ten aircraft, These aircraft, A9-751 to A9-760 (c/n 5657/5666, USN serials 160751/160760) were the P-3C-180-LO variant, known as P-3C Update II. A9-751 flew into Moffett Field on delivery from Lockheed’s Burbank plant on February 17 1978 for crew training and then arrived at Edinburgh on May 26, The final aircraft, A9-760, was delivered on January 16 1979.

The P-3C again differed little externally from the P-3B, but offered a quantum leap forward in electronics and processing capability, which allowed a reduction in crew from 12 to 10. The P-3C also introduced to service the Australian Barra passive sonobuoy system, and for search and surveillance missions was equipped with an infra-red detection system, Another improvement was the capability of launching the Harpoon air-to-surface missile (ASM) up to 100km from its target.

Over its years in service the P-3C Orion has seen great advances in technology, so various avionic improvement pro- grams have been implemented. These modifications have resulted since January 1975 in the “Upgrade” designations: • Upgrade I increased computer memory, more sensitive acoustic processing equipment, upgraded navigation equip- ment Upgrade II-introduction of the infra-red detector set (IRDS) and provision to carry the AGM-84 Harpoon long range anti- shipping missile – the standard missile of all current RAAF Orions Upgrade III improved IBM Proteus acoustic processing system, new sonobuoy signal receiver • Upgrade IV-Boeing development of enhanced processing capability, more sensitive acoustic sensors, and better elec- tronic Support Measures (ESM).

(The Upgrade IV program was subsequently cancelled in October 1992. ) The nextmajor decision regarding the P-3 wing at Edinburgh was whether to upgrade the older P-3B model or replace them with more P-3Cs. Fortunately the latter course was chosen, and on June 29 1982 a contract was signed for ten new P-3C Orlons with the trade in of the older P-3Bs.

A fire on the flight line at RAAF Edinburgh in Januacy 1984 destroyedP-3B A9-300 before the changeover: itsfuselage was later transferred to DSTO for use as a training and development aid.

The first P-3C for No 11 Squadron, A9-656, was handed over to the RAAF at Burbank on October 9 1984. These ten Update II Orlons were serialled A9-656 to A9-665 (dn between 5778 and 5795 with USN serials 162656/162665) and were the P-3C- 225-LOvariant. This model also became !mown by the designation for P-3Cs unique to the RAAF – the P-3W. A9-656 (ferry registration N64854) arrived at Edinburgh on December 7 1984.

In 1983 former A9-299 was registered N91LC and became the prototype Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft with Lockheed, before being sold to the US Customs Service. This aircraft was followed by A9-605.

In April 1985 the first RAAF Orion, A9-291, went to the RNZAF and joined their P-3B fleet in No 5 Squadron at Whenuapai as NZ4206: these aircraft are now designated P-3K The remaining P-3Bs, A9-292 to A9-298, were sold to the Portuguese Air Force, serialled 4801 to 4806, and serve as the P-3P in Esquadra 601 at Montijo.

The various designation of P-3 models is tabulated below.

Nearly 650 Orlons have been built by Lockheed in the US, with another 100builtfor the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) by Kawasaki.

P-3A-first production version for USN, serving with Greece, Turkey, Chile and Spain, also used by US Forest Service for wildfire suppression.

P-3B- second major variant for USN, serving with Spain (ex Norwegian aircraft).

P-3C – most recent production model for USN, also serving with Norway and Netherlands. Kawasaki build the P-3C and EP-3C for JMSDF.

P-3D- similar to P-3C, for South Korea.

RP-3D. WP-3D-weather and reconnaissance variants for USN. EP-3E- “Aries” electronic warfare (EW) variants for USN. P-3F- similar to P-3C, supplied to Iran during 1970s.

P-3G- original designation for the P-7A Long Range Air Antisubmarine CapableAircraft, thefollow on designfor the Orion, subsequently cancelled.

EP-3JEW- training aircraft for USN EW Training Squadron. P-3K- upgraded P-3B of the RNZAF.

P-3N- re-engined Norwegian P-3B. P-3P- ex RAAF P-3B for Portugal.

P-3T- ex USN P-3A for Thailand.

P-3W- RAAF P-3C Upgrade II models.

P-3 AEW&C – modified P-3B “Sentinel” for US Customs. CP-140- “Aurora” variant of P-3 for Canada with S-3A Viking avionics and data processing.

CP-140A- “Arcturus” surveillance version of Aurora.

Since February 1981 Nos 10 and 11 Squadrons, as part of No 92 Wing, have maintained continuous detachments at Air Base Butterworth, Malaysia, for maritime surveillance. Conversion to the Orion has been conducted by No 292 Squadron at Edinburgh, and since the introduction of an all P-3C force, any aircraft on the flightline can be flown by either 10, 11 or 292 Squadron crews.

On April 26 1991 A9-754 ditched during departure from Cocos Islands. This airframe may not be replaced byanother to fulfil the maritime mission, but it appears three extra aircraft are to be procured as pilot trainers to free up the existing fleet for operational tasks. Initially three P-3A aircraft were to be obtained but these were supplied to Chile. The selection of three suitable P-3B airframes is now in process, with delivery planned for 1994. These aircraft may be modified with a large side loading cargo door to provide the Maritime Patrol Group with an organic transport capability for P-3 deployments. Concurrent with this development, the existing fleet of 19 aircraft will undergo a major avionics update. This has been estimated to cost in excess of $500 million, with work commencing on the first aircraft in 1994. This upgrade is anticipated to keep the RAAF’s Orlons operational to well beyond 2010.

With the Orion production line being opened again (at the Marietta plant in Georgia) to supply aircraft to South Korea, another possibility for further Orion orders could be for the AEW&C role. The RAAF has an existing requirement for this type ofaircraft, with both P-3 and C-130 airframes being among the contenders.

However, irrespective of the AEW&C decision, the Orion is destined to see over four decades of RAAF service.