Orion to Poseidon

Defence ponders bid to extend Orion, delay P-8 buy

A joint Lockheed Martin-Australian Aerospace proposal to re-wing the RAAF’s AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft could see significant changes to project Air 7000.

Air 7000 envisions replacing the RAAF’s maritime surveillance capabilities currently provided by the 18 AP-3Cs with a combination of manned Boeing P-8 Poseidons and high altitude surveillance UAVs such as the Global Hawk.