Aircraft & UAVs

P-3C Orion patrol aircraft

The P-3C Orion patrol aircraft is a U.S. land-based, long-range maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft built by Lockheed Martin. NAVAIR describes it as the Navy’s frontline patrol aircraft since the early 1960s, with a ten-person crew, four Allison T-56 turboprop engines, internal and wing-pylon weapons carriage, and continued reserve and foreign military service after active-duty squadrons transitioned to the P-8A Poseidon.

P-3C Orion patrol aircraft, Maritime patrol aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs

Image source: File:US Navy 030129-N-0226M-002 P-3C Orion.jpg

Profile

Origin: United States
Built by: Lockheed Martin
Type: Maritime patrol aircraft
Service note: Entered U.S. Navy service in 1969; reserve squadrons and foreign operators continued flying the aircraft after active-duty transition to the P-8A Poseidon.

aircraftmaritime patrolanti-submarine warfarenaval strike

Specifications

Primary function: Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW)
Crew: Ten: three pilots, two naval flight officers, two flight engineers, three sensor operators, and one in-flight technician
Propulsion: Four Allison T-56-A-14 turboprop engines rated at 4,600 horsepower each
Length: 116.7 feet (35.57 meters)
Wingspan: 99.6 feet (30.38 meters)
Maximum gross takeoff: 139,760 pounds (63,394 kilograms)
Armament: AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-84K SLAM-ER, AGM-65F Maverick missiles, Mk46/50/54 torpedoes, rockets, mines, and depth bombs

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: U.S. Navy P-3C squadrons served for decades before active-duty patrol units transitioned to the P-8A Poseidon; reserve squadrons and foreign military sales operators continued flying the type.
Used by: U.S. Navy, Foreign military sales partners

Carried Munitions

Boeing's chronology records a Harpoon missile first drop test from a U.S. Navy P-3C Orion patrol aircraft.

Carried item

Item type

Carriage evidence

Anti-ship cruise missile

Anti-ship cruise missile

Boeing's chronology says the Harpoon anti-ship missile had a successful first drop test when released from a U.S. Navy P-3C Orion patrol aircraft.

Sources: Boeing chronology

P-3C Orion patrol aircraft Images

P-3C Orion patrol aircraft, Maritime patrol aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1 — Source: File:US Navy 030129-N-0226M-002 P-3C Orion.jpg

P-3C Orion patrol aircraft, Maritime patrol aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2 — Source: File:P-3C Orion, Sensor Two Station.jpg

P-3C Orion patrol aircraft, Maritime patrol aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 3 — Source: File:Touch down of Lockheed P-3C Orion (60+01).jpg

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Sources

P-3C Orion - NAVAIRPublisher: NAVAIR | Note: Supports the P-3C Orion mission, contractor context, long-range ASW/ASuW role, crew, propulsion, dimensions, and armament. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 P-3 Orion - Naval History and Heritage CommandPublisher: Naval History and Heritage Command | Note: Supports the P-3 Orion family’s patrol-aircraft background, dimensions, and general service context. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 Boeing chronologyPublisher: Boeing | Note: Supports the P-3C Orion carried relationship because Boeing's chronology says the Harpoon anti-ship missile had a successful first drop test when released from a U.S. Navy P-3C Orion patrol aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 File:US Navy 030129-N-0226M-002 P-3C Orion.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and public-domain licensing page for the primary P-3C Orion takeoff image. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 File:P-3C Orion, Sensor Two Station.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and public-domain licensing page for the P-3C Orion sensor-station gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 File:Touch down of Lockheed P-3C Orion (60+01).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and Creative Commons licensing page for the landing gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-23