P-3C/L-285D
The Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion is on of the most versatile and long-lasting aircraft in maritime aviation. Introduced in the U.S. Navy in the 1960s, the Orion stands in a line with very few airframes that are sustaining operations beyond 50 years.
Lockhead Martin P-3 Orion
Between 1961 and 1990 more than 750 P-3s have been built and entered service in Navies and Air Forces all around the globe to conduct missions such as:
- Anti submarine warfare
- Anti surface warfare
- Maritime patrol
- Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)
As of today around 300 P-3s are operated by more than 20 Navies, Air Forces and Governmental Institutions world-wide.
The characteristic airframe with its boom tail, containing the MAD or Magnetic Anomaly Detector, will be seen in the skies for many years to come.
If you need to keep your P-3 air crews combat ready, set up an appointment with us right now, no obligations.
The airplanes used for our training missions are provided by our trusted partner, MHD ROCKLAND Services Inc., a world class supplier in fixed wing aircraft operations, services and support.
Our P-3s reliably served the Royal Australian Air Force before MHD ROCKLAND Services acquired them at a commercial auction.
Those planes have been ferried over to Keystone Heights, Florida, by the ESG team and MHD, demilitarized and registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as type L-285D.
Technical data
P-3C Orion
| Crew | 11 (U.S. Navy) |
| Length | 35.61m |
| Wingspan | 30.38m |
| Height | 10.27m |
| Empty Weight | 27,892kg or 61,491lb |
| MTOW | 64,410kg or 142,000lb |
| Max Speed | 411kn |
| Cruise Speed | 328kn |
| Stall Speed | 133kn |
| Endurance | 12hours+ (Record: 21.5hours) |
Military operators (past and present)
- Argentina (acquired additional P-3s from Norway)
- Australia (retired their P-3s in 2023)
- Brazil
- Chile
- Canada
- Germany (retiring their P-3s in 2025)
- Greece
- Japan
- Netherlands (sold to Germany and Portugal)
- New Zealand
- Norway (retired their P-3s in 2023)
- Pakistan
- Portugal (acquired additional P-3s from Germany)
- South Korea
- Spain (retired their P-3s in 2022)
- Taiwan
- Thailand (retired their P-3s in 2014)
- United States of America
Governmental operators
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- United States Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Office of Air and Marine (CBP)