Military

Lockheed P-3 Orion

Manufacturer: Lockheed

The Lockheed P‑3 Orion is a four‑engine turboprop designed for anti‑submarine and maritime surveillance. Built on the L‑188 Electra airframe, it is instantly recognizable by its tail stinger MAD boom, which detects magnetic anomalies caused by submarines. Since its first flight in 1958, 757 units have been produced, and the type has served the U.S. Navy and many allies for more than five decades, now being phased out in favor of the Boeing P‑8 Poseidon.

Aircraft Facts

Type Key
lockheed-p-3-orion
Class
Military
Registry Count
3
Example Registration
N920AU

Specifications

Wingspan
30.38 m / 99 ft
Length
35.61 m / 116 ft
Height
10.27 m / 33 ft
Max Speed
761 km/h / 473 mph
Cruise Speed
607 km/h / 377 mph
Range
2491 km / 1345 nmi
Ceiling
8600 m / 28300 ft
First Flight
1959
Production Start
1961
Production End
1990
Total Built
650

Variants

  • P-3A- 3 registrations - Example N920AU

Machine-Readable Resources

Sources