LOCKHEED P-3 ORION

ORION SERVICE

Manufacturer: The Lockheed Aircraft Corp., Burbank, California, USA
(In 1977, became Lockheed Corp.)
(In 1995, became Lockheed-Martin Corp., Bethesda, Maryland, USA)
Models: Model 185, 285, 685, 785
Designations: P-3; P3V, CP-140 (CAF)
Names: Orion; Aries (EP-3E), Sentinel (P-3 AEW&C),
Aurora & Arcturus (CP-140, Canada)
First official flight: Prototype form 19/08/1958 then as
(YP3V-1) 25/11/1959
(P3V-1) 15/04/1961
Factory Production period: 1960 - 1995 (2000 in Japan)
Primary service period: 1962 - present
Last official flight: Still in service

ORION VARIANTS

Based on the Lockheed L-188 Electra civil airliner,
170 built from 1957 - 1962, ff: 06/12/1957.

1961 Model 185 P3V-1 (P-3A) 157  
1965 Model 185/B/C P-3B 144 Total: 301
         
1968 Model 285A YP-3C 1  
1968 Model 285A/D/E/785A P-3C 317  
1971 Model 285A RP-3D 1  
1975 Model 285A WP-3D 2 Total: 321
         
1975 Model 685A P-3F 6  
1979 Model 285D CP-140 18  
1990 Model 285D CP-140A 3 Total: 027

Grand Total: 649
1982 Foreign built - Japan:
Model 785A 		P-3C

107

Grand Total: 107


RNZAF P-3B-70-LO, s/n: NZ4201 (USN BuNo. 152886), was upgraded
along with five other RNZAF Orions to P-3K standards, first flying in 1983.
Christchurch, New Zealand, 2003.

ORION PRODUCTION

YP3V-1 1958, third civil L-188 (N1883, c/n: 188-1003) converted as a prototype.
Redesignated as YP3V-1 in 1959, BuNo. 148276, (new c/n: 185-1003),
then redesignated as YP-3A in 1962.

P3V-1
4 engined maritime reconn. / ASW aircraft.
Redesignated as P-3A in 1962. Later with
upgrades through modernization programs.
Produced 1960 - 1965
Lockheed Burbank, California (V)

BuNo.148883 / 148889 185-5001 / 5007    
BuNo.149667 / 149678 185-5008 / 5019    
BuNo.150494 / 150529 185-5020 / 5055    
BuNo.150604 / 150609 185-5056 / 5061    
BuNo.151349 / 151396 185-5062 / 5109    
BuNo.152140 / 152187 185-5110 / 5157

157

Total: 157

P-3B
As P-3A, engine / armament upgrade.
Later upgrades through modernization
programs.
Produced 1965 - 1969
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)

P-3B LW
1965, lightweight version.

BuNo.152718 / 152765 mixed 185-5158 to 5210    
BuNo.152886 / 152890
- 5 to New Zealand as
NZ4201 / NZ4205.		 mixed 185-5190 to 5208    
BuNo.153414 / 153442 185-5211 / 5239 82  

P-3B HW
1967, heavyweight version.

BuNo.153444 / 153458 185-5240 / 5254    
BuNo.154574 / 154605
- BuNo. 154605 to
Australia as A9-605. 		185-5255 / 5285    
BuNo.155291 / 155300
- 10 to Australia as
A9-291 / A9-300. 		185B-5401 / 5410    
BuNo.156599 / 156603
- 5 to Norway as
KK-L / KK-P.		 185C-5301 / 5305 62 Total: 144
8 additional airframes cancelled.


Starboard wing as seen from the observers position behind the
flight-deck on RNZAF P-3K Orion, s/n: NZ4202.
Christchurch, New Zealand, 2002.

YP-3C
As P-3B, factory converted P-3C prototype,
major electronics / systems upgrade.
Later redesignated as RP-3D, then NP-3D.
Produced 1968
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)

BuNo.153443 285A-5500

1

Total: 001

P-3C
As YP-3C, electronics upgrades continued
through "Update" and modernization programs.
Production shifted to Palmdale, CA. from 1984
(c/n: 5780) and Marietta, GA. from 1991 (c/n: 5831).
Produced 1968 - 1995
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)

BuNo.156507 / 156530 285A-5501 / 5524    
BuNo.157310 / 157332 285A-5525 / 5547    
BuNo.158204 / 158226 mixed 285A-5548 to 5571    
BuNo.158563 / 158574 285A-5572 / 5583    
BuNo.158912 / 158935 285A-5584 / 5607    
BuNo.159318 / 159329 285A-5608 / 5619

118

  

P-3C-I
1974, as P-3C, improved avionics.

BuNo.159503 / 159514 mixed 285A-5620 to 5632    
BuNo.159883 / 159894 285A-5634 / 5645    
BuNo.160283 / 160289 285A-5646 / 5652

31

  

P-3C-II
1977, as P-3C-I, further improvements.

BuNo.160290 / 160293 285A-5653 / 5656    
BuNo.160610 / 160612 mixed 285A-5659 to 5663    
BuNo.160751 / 160760
- 10 to Australia as
A9-751 / A9-760. 		mixed 285D-5657 to 5676    
BuNo.160761 / 160770 mixed 285A-5665 to 5679    
BuNo.160999 / 161014 mixed 285A-5680 to 5699    
BuNo.161121 / 161131 mixed 285A-5700 to 5721

54

  

P-3C-II.5
1981, as P-3C-II, new nav. / comms. systems.

BuNo.161132 285A-5724    
BuNo.161267 / 161269
- 3 to Japan as
5001 / 5003. 		785A-7001 / 7003    
BuNo.161329 / 161340 mixed 285A-5726 to 5739    
BuNo.161368 / 161380
- 13 to The Netherlands
as 300 / 312. 		mixed 285E-5733 to 5776    
BuNo.161404 / 161415 mixed 285A-5740 to 5755    
BuNo.161585 / 161596 mixed 285A-5756 to 5771    
BuNo.162656 / 162665
- 10 to Australia as
A9-656 / A9-665.		 mixed 285D-5778 to 5795

63

  

P-3C-III
1983, as P-3C-II.5, further improvements.

BuNo.161762 / 161767 mixed 285A-5772 to 5783    
BuNo.162314 / 162318 mixed 285A-5786 to 5794    
BuNo.162770 / 162778 285A-5796 / 5804    
BuNo.162998 / 163006 285A-5805 / 5813    
BuNo.163289 / 163299
- 4 to Norway as 3296 / 3299.		 mixed 285A-5814 to 5824

40

  

P-3C-II.75
1990, as P-3C-II.5 / -III, for Pakistan,
not delivered until 1997.

BuNo.164467 / 164469
- 3 to Pakistan as 81 / 83.		 285A5825 / 5827

3

  

Lockheed-Martin Marietta, Georgia (LM)

P-3C-III+
1994, as P-3C-III, for South Korea.

BuNo.165098 / 165105
- 8 to South Korea as
95-0901 / 95-0908.		 285A-5831 / 5838

8

Total: 317
70 additional airframes cancelled.

P-3D - Proposed development of the P-3C, cancelled.

RP-3D
As P-3C, factory converted for atmospheric
research duties. 4 P-3B's also converted.
Later redesignated as NP-3D.
Produced 1971
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)

BuNo.158227 285A-5551

1

Total: 001

WP-3D
As P-3C, factory converted for civil
atmospheric research with NOAA.
Produced 1975
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)

BuNo.159773
Delivered as:
N42RF (civil reg.) 		285A-5622

1

  
BuNo.159875
Delivered as:
N43RF (civil reg.) 		284A-5633

1

Total: 002

P-3F
As P-3C, version for Iran, equipment
changes, inflight refuelling.
Produced 1975
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)

BuNo.159342 / 159347
Delivered as:
(IIAF) 5-251 / 5-256
(renumbered: 5-8701 / 5-8706) 		685A-6001 / 6006

6

Total: 006

P-3G - Proposed long range ASW aircraft, cancelled.
 P-3H - Proposed P-3C upgrade, cancelled.
 P-3I - Not used.


Port wing showing engine nacelle and exhaust design
details on RNZAF P-3K Orion, s/n: NZ4202.
Christchurch, New Zealand, 2002.

CP-140 Aurora
As P-3C, equipment changes for Canada.
Produced 1978 - 1981
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)

(CAF) 140101 / 140118 mixed 285D-5682 to 5725

18

Total: 018

CP-140A Arcturus
As CP-140, stripped down version.
Produced 1989 - 1991
Lockheed Palmdale, California

(CAF) 140119 / 140121 285D-5828 / 5830

3

Total: 003

 

Grand Total: 649

Foreign built - Japan:
P-3C
Japanese built version of the P-3C, first 5 (5004 / 5008),
assembled from US built components.
Several variants were also produced.
Produced 1982 - 2000
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., Gifu, Japan

P-3C-II.5 / -III / -III+
(JMSDF) 5004 / 5101		 785A-9001 / 9098 98  
EP-3
(JMSDF) 9171 / 9175		 785A-1001 / 1005 5  
UP-3C
(JMSDF) 9151		 785A-2001 1  
UP-3D
(JMSDF) 9161 / 9163		 785A-3001 / 3003 3 Grand Total: 107

ORION CONVERSIONS

Military Conversions

US Navy

P-3ACH 4 P-3A, modernization program for Chilean Navy.
P-3AM 8 P-3A, 2008, modernization program for Brazil.
CP-3A - P-3A, proposed cargo / passenger conversion, cancelled.
EP-3A 7 P-3A, 1967, ELINT conversions, radomes added under fuselage.
RP-3A 3 P-3A, 1973, conversions for oceanographic survey duties.
TP-3A 12 P-3A, 1985, conversions as crew trainers.
UP-3A 38 P-3A, 1985, conversions as utility transports.
VP-3A 5 2 P-3A / 3 WP-3A, 1976, conversions to VIP / passenger transports.
WP-3A 4 P-3A, 1971-1975, weather reconn. conversions, 1 to NP-3A, 3 to VP-3A.
EP-3B 3 2 P-3A, 1969, named "Bat Rack", modified for electronic surveillance,
later converted to EP-3E. 1 P-3B also converted as EW test aircraft.
NP-3B 1 P-3B, 1969-2001, permanent testbed conversion.
TAP-3B 3 P-3B, 1997, ex. USN conversions as RAAF trainers / transports,
"T" for Trainer, "A" for Australia.
UP-3B 5 P-3B, conversions as utility transports.
P-3C AIP 71 P-3C, 1998, Aircraft Improvement Program (AIP) electronics upgrades.
NP-3C 1 P-3C, permanent testbed conversion.
TP-3C - P-3C, proposed conversions as crew trainers, cancelled.
NP-3D 14 7 P-3A / 5 P-3B, 1994-present, redesignation as permanent conversions
for various research and test duties. Additionally, 1 is former YP-3C
and 1 other is former RP-3D.
EP-3E

12

 Aries
10 P-3A / 2 EP-3B, 1971, ELINT electronic surveillance conversions.
EP-3E 12 Aries II
P-3C, 1988, improved ELINT electronic surveillance conversions.
BuNo. 156511, involved in China Incident, 01/04/2001.
NP-3E 1+ P-3C, permanent testbed conversions.
EP-3J 2 P-3B, 1992, electronic threat simulators for US fleet exercises.
P-3K 6 P-3B, 1983, RNZAF Rigel electronics upgrade programme, K for "Kiwi".
P-3M 1+ P-3A / P-3B, 2003-present, modernization program for Spain.
P-3N 2 P-3B, 1991, surveillance / training conversions for Norwegian Coast Guard. 
P-3P 6 P-3B, 1985, ex-RAAF aircraft for Portugal, modified to Update II standard.
P-3T 3 P-3A, 1990, modified aircraft for Thailand, 1 modified as UP-3T for
utility duties, then as VP-3T for VIP duties.
P-3W 20 P-3C, 1978, RAAF aircraft with modified equipment.
Further upgraded in 1997 to AP-3C standards.

Foreign Conversions

NP-3C 1+ P-3C, KHI conversions for airways checks in Japan.
OP-3C 4 P-3C, 2001-present, KHI electronic surveillance conversions.
New JMSDF s/n: 9131 / 9134.

Civil Conversions

P-3A(CS) 4 P-3A, temporary conversions with enhanced radar for US Customs.
NP-3A 2 YP3V-1, 1966, to NASA (N428NA civil reg.), for Earth Resources Program.
1 P-3B also converted in 1990 as N426NA (civil reg.).
P-3 AEW&C 9 Sentinel
P-3B, 1984, Airborne Early Warning & Control, large dorsal rotodome.
Currently used by the US Customs Service.

FOREIGN MILITARY / CIVILIAN SERVICE
 - Second-hand Orions sold to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Greece, Portugal,
   Spain and Thailand.
 - Many Orions sold to US or foreign civilian / government agencies
   for various customs, test duties etc.
 - P-3 Aerostar, 1989, 8 conversions by Aero Union Corp., California as
   civil fire-bombers.

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