AP-3C Orion
The Lockheed AP-3C Orion is a variant of the P-3 Orion formerly used by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) for tasks such as naval fleet support, maritime surveillance, search and survivor supply and anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare. The 18 AP-3C Orions were upgraded from P-3Cs between 1997 and 2005, with the program taking three years longer than expected due to systems integration problems. All 18 AP-3C Orions were operated by No. 92 Wing which is based at RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia. Aircraft from the wing have seen service as part of Australian Defence Force operations in Australia, South East Asia and the Middle East. They were retired in 2019 following the introduction of the Boeing P-8 Poseidon to the RAAF fleet. The two AP-3C(EW) variants equipped for electronic and signals intelligence (ELINT/SIGINT) were retired in December 2023.
Summary from Wikipedia, photo via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA.
- Manufacturer
- Lockheed Corporation
- Country of origin
- United States
- First flight
- 1999-05-19
Specifications
- Max speed
- 405 kt
- Range
- 2,346 nm
- Service ceiling
- 28,300 ft
- Rate of climb
- 3,140 ft/min
- Max takeoff weight
- 134,923 lb
- Empty weight
- 61,509 lb
- Powerplant
- 4 × Allison T56-A-14 turboshaft engines
- Engines
- 4
- Seats
- 13
- Length
- 116.8 ft
- Wingspan
- 101.5 ft
- Height
- 34.3 ft
- Number built
- 18
Specifications are approximate and may vary by variant. Compiled from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Reference and training only. Specifications vary by variant — consult the manufacturer and the official documents.