NEW DEVELOPMENTS Worldwide P-3 Status Report By David Reade This P-3 Status Report compiled by David Reade developing the aircraft in exchange for props, the Boeing Update IV package is based on multiple inteniews and conversations obtaining production models. Ger- with improved with the US Novy'sFMS Office, USN Squodron MAD, new ESM and many hoped get VAQ-33, COMPATWING's ATLANTIC and to twelye of the ad- OTHT (Over the Horizon Target) PACIFIC, N1S Jacksonville NADEP, vanced airframes, but development systems. The aircraft will be laid out TRACOR Applied Sciences (Air Systems Dept), problems arose, and the p-7A was with the side-by-side sensor stations USN VP-30, Lockheed's International Program- cancelled by the US Navy. (like the old Alphas and Bravos) and mes Office (fOSC Conference), Boeing Defense a 3-2 adjustable ond Spoce Group, IMP (Holifox), US Customs Both Lockheed and the Navy cockpit. With 24 dit- Service, US Forest Service, Aero (Jnion, began to study the continuation of an ching stations, later provisions for the Blackhills Aviation, Howkins and Powers Avio- advanced Orion, after the announce- "EFIS" Glass Cockpit and an in-flight tion, NASA, and Internotionol Orion Operators: ment that Lockheed would resume refuelling probe are planned. Australia (RAAF), Spoin, Jopan (MSO- production of the P-3 for the Republic Both the US Navy and Lockheed JMSDF), Conodian Armed Forces, Norway ,,p-3C (RNoAF) and the Netherlands. Additionat of Korea. Later designated have made it clear that Orion II would documents provided by most of these sources Orion II", the new Orion would be an only be available with the Update IV were also utilized. - The Editor extension of the Korean production package. base-line airframe, with Orion II im- Thirty years ago, Lockheed,s Bur- provements incorporated into Update Mvionics Upgrade bank facility rolled out what would production. Programme later become the premier ASW ,,Sub- The Orion II included most of the The Hunting" Maritime Patrol aircraft: the first functional flight test of planned features scheduled the the Update pro- P-3 Orion! Though production of the for IV Avionics Upgrade P-7A such as advanced turboprop gramme, Orion at Burbank was halted in early developed by Boeing Defense engines with six-bladed, composite 1997, this action has not diminished and Space Group, took place on the amount of activity surrounding the P-3, nor its future. Immediately following the end of production, the follow-on, next- generation Maritime Patrol aircraft was to have been developed. The P-7A LRAACA (Long-Range Air Anti- Submarine Capable Aircraft) was derived from the P-3 Orion. The somewhat larger aircraft was to in- clude increased sonobuoy and harpoon capacity; next-generation turboprop (6000 HP) engines with six-bladed, composite props and new defensive chaff-flare dispenser pods. Avionics would have encompassed the Boeing update IV package with new ESM, radar, navigation and the Collins "EFIS" (Electronic Flight Instrumen- tation System) "Glass Cockpit". The P-7A design allowed for more weapons, greater range and longer on-station loitering, while using less fuel than current P-3's. Many The Universal Display and Control System (UDACS) workstations are a key element in the US countries (Australia, Japan, England Navy's P-3 Update IV system. The first functional flight test of the Update IY system, developed by Boeing Defense and Space Group, took place on 16 December 1991. and Germany) were interested in co- (Boeing) PAGE 62 MARITIME PATROL AVIATION SEPTEMBER 1992 December 16, 1991. The first series of flights studied the non-acoustic systems associated with the Update IV, while later flight testing (in early 1992) put emphasis on evaluating the "uYS-2" acoustic pro- cessor, with the dropping of numerous sonobuoys off the Washington (State) Coast. The heart of the Boeing Update . ii 'ii ' n "ai lliln- -'' IV Programme is the advanced '"uu*o***t'**ffi - technology "Distribution Pro- cessor,/Display Generator Unit" (DPIDGU) system. This is an in- The Canadian Armed Forces have acquired three new P-3 designated CP140A "ARCTURUS,' tegrated, information-management aircraft from Lockheed. This photo depicts the CP140A in its green primer before delivery to IMP Halifax for installation of its sensor systems. and planning system, which accepts all (Lockheed) incoming sensor data, processes it and the Secretary of Defense, Maritime This leaves the US Navy with distributes it to crew-station displays. Patrol Force levels are to be drawn about 264 Charlie models in operation, The DPIDGU utilizes new high- down from 24 active/|3 Reserve hence the Navy's decision to extend the resolution, full-colour displays that Squadrons to 18 active/9 Reserve. service life of these aircraft by im- replace old P-3 monochromatic screens Several Squadrons were dis-established plementing a "SLAP"-Service Life and central processors. This update in 1991. Assessment Programme. The Pro- system provides for easier task opera- The new FY 1993 budget provides gramme will study fleet Orions to tions. Coupled with the redistribution for two more active a.nd four Reserve determine their fatigue-life condition, of operators' workload, the crew's Squadrons to be deactivated before the and use the generated data to create ability to identify, locate and prosecute end of 1993. preventative measures to extend their contact targets is increased. service life. This be conducted This plan also includes the phasing out will Scheduled delivery of the pro- through of VP-31 Fleet Replacement (Training) a "SLEP"-Service Life Exten- gramme testbed Orion aircraft (and sion Programme. SLEP, Squadron at Moffett Field. The coupled with Block 2 software) to the Navy is plann- potential new aircraft procurement Squadron's last classes will be combin- ed for August 1993. (Orion II), will provide the Navy with ed with those of VP-30 at NAS The Navy will then conduct its the force levels to meet its requirements Jacksonville by December 1992. own series of flight testing for a year. well into the next century. Boeing, once approved, will retro-fit This reduction plan is also in line the Update IV into approximately 109 with the military-base closings directed ' Foreign Military Sales Navy P-3C Update I and II airframes. by the Pentagon. NAS Moffett Field Foreign military make up the bulk The Update IV production system, has been targeted to close, with VP-40 of new Orion operators. The Republic scheduled for the Orion II, differs transferring to NAS Brunswick and of Korea ordered eight p-3C Update from that of the retro-fit package to VP-46 moving to NAS Jacksonville. III Orions in 1989, prompting the re- be installed on the older Orions. This Remaining West Coast (active) opening of the P-3 production line at is mostly because of the new interior Squadrons: VP-47 and VP-9, will be Marrietta, GA. Designated p-3C Up- arrangement planned for the Orion II. relocated to NAS Barbers Point, date III's, the Korean Orions differ Hawaii. Update IV is the largest avionics from standard Update III configura- These reductions will also affect upgrade ever undertaken by the Navy tion in the areas of computer process- the number of P-3 Orions in service for its P-3 Orions. ing, ESM and Radar systems. The with the US Navy. Approximately 300 Although these programmes con- Korean purchase is a direct, commer- P-3 Alpha and Bravo models will retire tinue to progress, military budget cuts cial sale with major mission-systems from operational service. The Alphas are being announced. It's uncertain and logistical support via a Navy FMS were directed to be out of service by what extent these cuts will have on the (Foreign Military Sales) CASE. The October 1991, with the exception of Update IV and Orion II projects. production schedule is currently on special-purpose, research-develop- track with the first delivery in 1995. USN MPA Force Level 3 ment, test-and-evaluation organiza- US Navy budget cuts have taken tions such as: NAWC-AD (NADC), Pakistan their toll on its Maritime Patrol com- PMTC and NASC. Bravos will con- In 1991, Pakistan was to receive munity in the last year. Under the tinue to be flown in support roles in three P-3C (Update II.75) Orions it "Force Reduction Plan" developed by many areas of the community. ordered several years before. Lockheed SEPTEMBER 1992 MARITIME PATROL AVIATION PAGE 63 built the aircraft, but delivery was than capable of providing Aurora to approximately 30 aircraft, with # 42 frozen by the US Government, due to logistics support, ferrying spare parts, Squadron planning to stand down in the enactment of the Pressler Sanc- sonobuoys (stored in the aircraft's 48 1992). tions. Passed by Congress in October non-functional sonobuoy cutes) and In January 1992, the Ministry of 1990, the Pressler Amendment states personnel to deployed bases. Defense issued an Air Staff Require- that before any FMS sale to Pakistan Potential Customers ment for the Nimrod to be replaced. takes place, it must be accompanied by Numerous other nations have Since the cancellation of the P-7A, of a certificate from the (Bush) Ad- recently expressed interest in obtaining which the UK had requested 25, the ministration, that Pakistan "Does not P-3 Orions. RAF has been conducting preliminary possess a nuclear explosive device." To Potential new Orion operators in- talks regarding the P-3 as their next date, no certification has come forth. clude Germany and the UK (RAF) Maritime Patrol aircraft. As a result, on January 22,1992, which have both been desperately seek- The RAF would prefer Orion IIs, the US Navy's VP-30 (Guardians of ing Maritime Patrol aircraft but would consider the P-3C UPdate the aircraft) flew the three Pakistan replacements since the cancellation of III if the Orion II was not approved.