P-3C Orion, EP-3E ARIES II
The Lockheed P-3 Orion rst
entered service under the
designation as the P3V-1 in July
1962 and was redesignated as the
P-3A in September 1962.
Today the P-3C version
continues to serve in the maritime
patrol role alongside the EP-3E
intelligence, surveillance, and
reconnaissance (ISR) variant.
In the maritime patrol role, the
P-3C provides anti-submarine
warfare (ASW), anti-surface
warfare (ASUW), and intelligence,
surveillance, and reconnaissance
(ISR) capabilities to naval and joint
task force commanders.The Orion is progressively being
replaced by the Boeing P-8A
and by December 2017 just 63
remained in service with the FRS,
three operational squadrons, two
reserve squadrons and test units.
Transition of the Atlantic Fleet to
the Poseidon is already complete
and half of the Paci c Fleet
squadrons have followed suit.
The remaining P-3Cs include
the block modi cation upgrade
(BMUP) and anti-surface warfare
improvement program (AIP)
variants. In recent years, the Orion
took on new missions in support
of littoral warfare. As a result, theP-3C’s surface warfare capabilities
were upgraded under the AIP.
The Orion gained new weapons
that included the AGM-65F
Maverick and AGM-84E SLAM
missiles. In addition, it received
upgraded over-the-horizon
targeting (OTH-T) and command,
control, communications, and
intelligence (C3I) capabilities.
Under the command, control,
communications and computers
for anti-submarine warfare (C4
for ASW) project, the 55 AIP
variants received additional
upgrades that included the
installation of Link 16 and
international marine/maritime
satellite (INMARSAT) broadband
connectivity.
Several BMUP-standard
Orions have now been modi ed
to carry the Raytheon AN/
APS-149 Littoral Surveillance
Radar System (LSRS). Its active
electronically scanned array
(AESA) radar is capable of
detecting and tracking moving
or stationary land and maritime
targets. Until the replacement
AN/APS-154 Advanced Airborne
Sensor (AAS) is elded by the P-8A,the navy’s two reserve squadrons
will continue to support the eet
with the APS-149 through 2023.
The EP-3E ARIES II was originally
developed speci cally for the
signals intelligence (SIGINT)
role but is now tasked as a
manned maritime intelligence,
surveillance, reconnaissance
and targeting platform. All 15
of the US Navy’s EP-3Es have
been modi ed with a multi-int
capability and are now capable
of providing near-real-time
SIGINT and full-motion video
intelligence. The latest Spiral 3
upgrades gave the EP-3E a faster
geo-location capability. The
ARIES II is scheduled to remain
operational until 2020, when it
is replaced by the unmanned
MQ-4C Triton. Delivery of the
nal aircraft to receive the Spiral
3 upgrades will occur in 2018.
Under current plans, VP-30 will
continue to carry out initial and
refresher training at Jacksonville
until 2019. The navy’s budget
supports the operation of 55
AIP+ and 18 BMUP-con gured
P-3Cs along with 12 EP-3Es
through 2020.Squadron Location Aircraft Command Tail code
VP-1 ‘Screaming Eagles’NAS Whidbey Island, Washington P-3C CPRW-10 YB
VP-30 (FRS) ‘Pro’s Nest’ NAS Jacksonville, Florida P-3C CPRG LL
VP-40 ‘Fighting Marlins’NAS Whidbey Island, Washington P-3C CPRW-10 QE
VP-46 ‘Grey Knights’ NAS Whidbey Island, Washington P-3C CPRW-10 RC
VP-62 ‘Broadarrows’
(see note 1)NAS Jacksonville,
Florida P-3C CMSW LT
VP-69 ‘Totems’
(see note 1)NAS Whidbey Island,
Washington P-3C CMSW PJ
VPU-2 ‘Wizards’ MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii P-3C CPRW-10
VQ-1 ‘World Watchers’ NAS Whidbey Island, Washington EP-3E, P-3C CPRW-10 PR
VX-30 ‘Bloodhounds’ NB Ventura County Point Mugu, California P-3C, NP-3C NAWCWD BH
VXS-1 ‘Warlocks’ NAS Patuxent River, Maryland P-3C, NP-3C NRL RL
1 Naval Reserve squadron.A P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft of VP-46
‘Grey Knights’. US Navy/MCS3C Juan S. SuaUS NAVY & MARINE CORPS AIR POWER YEARBOOK 2018
(^80) AIR POWER REVIEW
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